Lays of Leisure Hours | ||
495
FIREFLIES AT MILAN.
Bright lovely things,
Like Stars on wings,
Ye daze the eye
Thus flashing by.
Like Stars on wings,
Ye daze the eye
Thus flashing by.
Ev'n brief as bright,
Your life—your light
Not long may last,
Their prime soon past!
Your life—your light
Not long may last,
Their prime soon past!
But that is nought,
Things free as Thought!—
To ye who know
Nor fear, nor woe!
Things free as Thought!—
To ye who know
Nor fear, nor woe!
496
Beyond this hour
Ye have no power
To look—bright things—
Like Stars on wings!
Ye have no power
To look—bright things—
Like Stars on wings!
In your mid-joy
No dull alloy
Its truth to bound
Can e'er be found—
No dull alloy
Its truth to bound
Can e'er be found—
While free ye play
Each seems a ray
With life instinct,
With rapture linked!
Each seems a ray
With life instinct,
With rapture linked!
Shot from the Sun,
In joy begun,
In joy as true,
Completed too.
In joy begun,
In joy as true,
Completed too.
497
Oh! revellers bright!
Your Life is Light!—
Ye breathe—and blaze—
Like quickened rays!
Your Life is Light!—
Ye breathe—and blaze—
Like quickened rays!
Lays of Leisure Hours | ||