The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott Edited by his Son Edwin Elliott ... A New and Revised Edition: Two Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott |  |
136
RAINBOWED MAY.
Now, over violets the chaffinch hops,
And bursts of sunshine startle wood and copse,
With bluebells gay;
For heav'n is dim with showers, and mountain-tops
Look down on rainbow'd May:
Haste then, mechanic, take thy spade and hoes;
Haste to thy garden, while thy soul o'erflows
With hope and joy;
And with thee take, rejoicing as he goes,
Thy heart-awaken'd boy.
And bursts of sunshine startle wood and copse,
With bluebells gay;
For heav'n is dim with showers, and mountain-tops
Look down on rainbow'd May:
Haste then, mechanic, take thy spade and hoes;
Haste to thy garden, while thy soul o'erflows
With hope and joy;
And with thee take, rejoicing as he goes,
Thy heart-awaken'd boy.
Lo! his cheek reddens as he lifts his eyes!
He grasps his rusted rake with joyful cries
And sinews stark;
And to his shout his smoke-dried dog replies,
With dusty frisk and bark;
For to the garden, where the red-breast hops,
Through gleams of light that startle wood and copse
They take their way;
While, bathed in dewy air, the mountain tops
Look down on rainbow'd May.
He grasps his rusted rake with joyful cries
And sinews stark;
And to his shout his smoke-dried dog replies,
With dusty frisk and bark;
For to the garden, where the red-breast hops,
Through gleams of light that startle wood and copse
They take their way;
While, bathed in dewy air, the mountain tops
Look down on rainbow'd May.
| The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott | |