THE dawn's pale finger from her eye Is brushing out the cobweb sleep; See how the crimson clothes the sky, And out of dark the mountains leap! Now guides and hunters strap their gears, The birds peep out, the mice run in; A snow-wind moves the nose to tears, As flowers to open just begin. When moon fades out with tilting horn, And sleepy boys lead sleepy goats -- Then hand in hand with Lover Hope The strong-eyed, with our feet a-swing We'll go a-marching up the slope Of Young Enchantment's promising. And now the clock is set at noon; The butterflies are kittens black; And cowbells tumble out a tune Which yellow bees do mumble back. We've climbed the snow into the sky; Below, streams run a tinkling race, And valleys glisten drowsily, For all the world lies on its face. The crystals bubble from the pine, And grasses teem with little legs -- Then drink the cup of Lover Joy, Who, silver-naked, goes about; Till eager heart has got its cloy Of wine that chases trouble out. Now Sun has mellowed out the day, And shadows play us hide and seek; The cricket's legs have had their say, And burned is every traveller's cheek. Blueberries are ripe and warm, Sparkle-fairies swim to land; Hay is packing to the farm, Cows, for milkmaids begging, stand. Flaky trouts smoke in the dish, Amber brews invite the throat -- Then let full plenty's droning song Play harvest music to your ear: Brave Lover Rest has come along To drug the senses of his dear. Dew is blessing all the air, Steel-bright stars are winking points, Hush is fallen, eyelids stare, Rheum comes crackling at the joints. Woodsmoke tingles in the nose, Moon goes flying like a sail, Frost is nipping at the toes, Drowsy drags the evening tale. Windy clouds like flighting geese, Mountain-mad, the heavens haunt -- Then take the kiss of Lover Sleep, Who slyly steals the light of eyes -- Let monk, and maid, and martyr, keep Their vigils, chant their threnodies! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON A PROPOSED TRIP SOUTH by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS MADRIGAL by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN THE BELEAGUERED CITY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE LOST CHORD by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER AGAMEMNON: HELEN. CHORUS by AESCHYLUS THE COMBAT, BETWEENE CONSCIENCE AND COVETOUSNESSE by RICHARD BARNFIELD BLACKSMITH PAIN by OTTO JULIUS BIERBAUM THE LONG TRUCE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 26. ASKING FOR HER HEART. CHRISTMAS by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |