Minuscula Lyrics of Nature, Art and Love. By Francis William Bourdillon |
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Winged Ants |
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24
Winged Ants
These little crawling ants for one day's space
Had Iris-wings of gossamer, and flew,
Light as the down of thistles, in the face
Of smiling heaven, whose frown not yet they knew.
The world was all a wonder, green and blue;
And light the labour down soft winds to race,
Ere yet they learned earth's dust to be their place,
Toil their inheritance, and death their due.
Had Iris-wings of gossamer, and flew,
Light as the down of thistles, in the face
Of smiling heaven, whose frown not yet they knew.
The world was all a wonder, green and blue;
And light the labour down soft winds to race,
Ere yet they learned earth's dust to be their place,
Toil their inheritance, and death their due.
O human toilers! though no good ye know
But labour, and no certain goal but death,
Was not your youth in dreams iridian dressed?
Why will ye those bright memories forgo,
Nor list again your childhood's lore, which saith,
Not life laborious, but life winged, is best?
But labour, and no certain goal but death,
Was not your youth in dreams iridian dressed?
Why will ye those bright memories forgo,
Nor list again your childhood's lore, which saith,
Not life laborious, but life winged, is best?
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