 | The wind in the trees |  |
21
LEAVES
Myriads and myriads plumed their glistening wings,
As fine as any bird that soars and sings,
As bright as fireflies or the dragon-flies,
Or birds of paradise.
As fine as any bird that soars and sings,
As bright as fireflies or the dragon-flies,
Or birds of paradise.
Myriads and myriads waved their sheeny fans,
Soft as the dove's breast, or the pelican's;
And some were gold, and some were green, and some
Pink-lipped, like apple-bloom.
Soft as the dove's breast, or the pelican's;
And some were gold, and some were green, and some
Pink-lipped, like apple-bloom.
A low wind tossed the plumage all one way,
Rippled the gold feathers, and green and gray,—
A low wind that in moving sang one song
All day and all night long.
Rippled the gold feathers, and green and gray,—
A low wind that in moving sang one song
All day and all night long.
22
Sweet honey in the leafage, and cool dew,
A roof of stars, a tent of gold and blue;
Silence and sound at once, and dim green light,
To turn the gold day night.
A roof of stars, a tent of gold and blue;
Silence and sound at once, and dim green light,
To turn the gold day night.
Some trees hung lanterns out, and some had stars,
Silver as Hesper, and rose-red as Mars;
A low wind flung the lanterns low and high,—
A low wind like a sigh.
Silver as Hesper, and rose-red as Mars;
A low wind flung the lanterns low and high,—
A low wind like a sigh.
Myriads and myriads, more in number than
The sea's sands, or its drops of water wan,
Sang one Name in the rapture that is May;
With faces turned one way.
The sea's sands, or its drops of water wan,
Sang one Name in the rapture that is May;
With faces turned one way.
| The wind in the trees | |