VERY fair the child was, with hair of darkest auburn, -- Fair, and yet sunburnt with the golden summer: Sunshine seem'd the element from which she drew her being. Careless from her little hand the gather'd ears are scatter'd, In a graceful wreath the purple corn-flowers binding; While her sweet face brightens with a sudden pleasure. Blame not her binding: already stirs within her All the deep emotions in the love of nature, -- Love, that is the source of the beautiful and holy. In long-after years will memory, recalling Sweetness undying from that early garland, Keep the heart glad with natural devotion. 'Tis a true, sweet lesson; for, in life's actual harvest, Much we need the flowers that mingle with our labours. Pleasures, pure and simple, recall us to their Giver; For ever, in its joy, does the full heart think of Heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING' by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH WHEN THE COWS COME HOME by AGNES E. MITCHELL BEAUTIFUL MEALS by THOMAS STURGE MOORE THEY CALL IT BUSINESS by CHARLES G. ADAMS THE PERSIANS (PERSAE): XERXES DEFEATED by AESCHYLUS THE OLD FERRYMAN by ANTIPHILUS OF BYZANTIUM HAPPINESS THROUGH THE YEAR by J. MARGARET CRUTE ASHCRAFT |