 | Verses of a life time |  |
164
RETURN TO MASSACHUSETTS.
The martin's nest! the simple nest!
I see it swinging high,
Just as it stood in distant years,
Above my gazing eye;
But many a bird has plumed its wing,
And lightly flown away,
Or drooped his little head in death,
Since that—my youthful day!
I see it swinging high,
Just as it stood in distant years,
Above my gazing eye;
But many a bird has plumed its wing,
And lightly flown away,
Or drooped his little head in death,
Since that—my youthful day!
The woodland stream! the pebbly stream!
It gaily flows along,
As once it did when by its side
I sang my merry song.
But many a wave has roll'd afar,
Beneath the summer cloud,
Since by its bank I idly pour'd
My childish song aloud.
It gaily flows along,
As once it did when by its side
I sang my merry song.
But many a wave has roll'd afar,
Beneath the summer cloud,
Since by its bank I idly pour'd
My childish song aloud.
165
The sweet-brier rose! the way-side rose!
Still spreads its fragrant arms,
Where graciously to passing eyes
It gave its simple charms;
But many a perfumed breeze has passed,
And many a blossom fair,
Since with a careless heart I twined
Its green wreaths in my hair.
Still spreads its fragrant arms,
Where graciously to passing eyes
It gave its simple charms;
But many a perfumed breeze has passed,
And many a blossom fair,
Since with a careless heart I twined
Its green wreaths in my hair.
The barberry bush! the poor man's bush!
Its yellow blossoms hang
As erst, where by the grassy lane
Along I lightly sprang;
But many a flower has come and gone,
And scarlet berry shone,
Since I, a school-girl in its path,
In rustic dance have flown.
Its yellow blossoms hang
As erst, where by the grassy lane
Along I lightly sprang;
But many a flower has come and gone,
And scarlet berry shone,
Since I, a school-girl in its path,
In rustic dance have flown.
Watertown, Mass. 1812.
| Verses of a life time | |