'Kill not -- for Pity's sake -- and lest ye slay The meanest thing upon its upward way.' -- FIVE RULES OF BUDDHA. I WATCH you through the garden walks, I watch you float between The avenues of dahlia stalks, And flicker on the green; You hover round the garden seat, You mount, you waver. Why, -- Why storm us in our still retreat, O saffron Butterfly! Across the room in loops of flight I watch you wayward go; Dance down a shaft of glancing light, Review my books a-row; Before the bust you flaunt and flit Of 'blind Maeonides' -- Ah, trifler, on his lips there lit Not butterflies, but bees! You pause, you poise, you circle up Among my old Japan; You find a comrade on a cup, A friend upon a fan; You wind anon, a breathing-while, Around AMANDA'S brow; -- Dost dream her then, O Volatile! E'en such an one as thou? Away! Her thoughts are not as thine. A sterner purpose fills Her steadfast soul with deep design Of baby bows and frills; What care hath she for worlds without, What heed for yellow sun, Whose endless hopes revolve about A planet, oetat One! Away! Tempt not the best of wives; Let not thy garish wing Come fluttering our Autumn lives With truant dreams of Spring! Away! Reseek thy 'Flowery Land'; Be Buddha's law obeyed; Lest Betty's undiscerning hand Should slay ... a future PRAED! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COTTON CLUB by CLARENCE MAJOR THE YOUNG LAUNDRYMAN by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 1. EMBARKATION by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER THE ILIAD: ACHILLES OVER THE TRENCH by HOMER LAMENT by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY ENGLAND IN 1819 by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE CRICKET by FREDERICK GODDARD TUCKERMAN |