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THE BLUE-BIRD'S BURIAL.
I.
After long rains November, in a brief dream of Spring,
Had the tearful eyes of April; some trees were blossoming.
Had the tearful eyes of April; some trees were blossoming.
But, long before, October dear April's bloom had bless'd—
Her goldenest hope lay ripen'd upon his swarthy breast.
Her goldenest hope lay ripen'd upon his swarthy breast.
Hush'd were the noons and leafless the boughs of the cherry tree,
Where the blue-bird sang as prophet, and as preacher humm'd the bee.
Where the blue-bird sang as prophet, and as preacher humm'd the bee.
Deep in her palace of honey the queen-bee dream'd of Spring,
And moved in winter slumber while the trees were blossoming.
And moved in winter slumber while the trees were blossoming.
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And the blue-bird dropp'd—remember, we buried him, darling, found
With the dead leaves, nameless, homeless, and coffinless, on the ground.
With the dead leaves, nameless, homeless, and coffinless, on the ground.
We found him and bless'd and buried the prophet of blossom and bee,
With painted leaves for his cover, under his laurel tree:
With painted leaves for his cover, under his laurel tree:
Saying, “Dear poet and prophet, you bless'd the world, we know;
We give you the poet's guerdon—a grave in Winter snow.
We give you the poet's guerdon—a grave in Winter snow.
“But blesséd and blessing forever shall be the life you led;
Your breath was a breath of heaven—sleep warm in the Earth's cold bed.
Your breath was a breath of heaven—sleep warm in the Earth's cold bed.
“Forgotten and unremember'd?—remember'd and unforgot!
Your soul shall rise and flutter from many a poet's thought;
Your soul shall rise and flutter from many a poet's thought;
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“And all the haunted silence deep in the poet's breast,
Of Spring and Love and Longing, shall rise with wings, express'd.
Of Spring and Love and Longing, shall rise with wings, express'd.
“Sleep, therefore, April's darling, twin of the violet dead,
With the ghost of song in your bosom, the starflower at your head.”
With the ghost of song in your bosom, the starflower at your head.”
II.
You found the star-flower, dearest. O never—though all the years
Go out with dirges and darkness and comfortless Rachel's tears—
Go out with dirges and darkness and comfortless Rachel's tears—
Shall flush the world with fragrance a Spring so lovely here
As the dream of Spring, in Autumn, to me you made so dear;
As the dream of Spring, in Autumn, to me you made so dear;
When, wandering in the woodland, that gentle day, we found
The blue-bird, nameless, homeless, and coffinless, on the ground;
The blue-bird, nameless, homeless, and coffinless, on the ground;
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When, child at heart forever, but woman sweet and brave,
With world-old, tender fancies, you kiss'd the blue-bird's grave.
With world-old, tender fancies, you kiss'd the blue-bird's grave.
That night the late, hush'd moonrise came, dusky, large and red:
Jewel'd with frosty jewels it saw November dead.
Jewel'd with frosty jewels it saw November dead.
Within, our fire kept dancing to all sweet dreams and bright:
You said, “I hear the blue-bird sing in my heart to-night.”
You said, “I hear the blue-bird sing in my heart to-night.”
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