Poems Lyrical and Dramatic :: :: University of Virginia Library

Restless, pathless, hither, thither,
Taste of joy while yet you may:
Buds may bloom, and blooms may wither,
Thou art shorter-lived than they;
Kissing 'mong the purple heather,
In the pleasant summer weather,
Live and love while it is day.

II.

From the peaceful bent to borrow
Peace, thyself possessing none,
Finding beauty, leaving sorrow,
Seen when maiden morn is cheerful,

193

Flitting on the cloudy morrow
From the blossoms bent and tearful,
Wildly wooed and scorned when won,
O'er new vales to seek new pleasure,
Teach the winds a mirthful measure,
Dancing till the day be done.

III.

Now I see thee lightly settle
On a bent Petunia petal,
Snatch from joy a moment's rest,
Part and leave the sprays a-tremble
Which thy fairy feet have pressed;
Upward, upward, mounting, soaring,
Creature of a day's adoring,
Fervent, fickle, faithless lover,
Still I watch thee pause and hover;
Loiter, hesitate, dissemble;
Stoop to lavish hid caresses
Through Laburnum's golden tresses;
Sip the lips of ruddy roses
Blushing 'neath the sun that blesses;
Taste the Lily's dainty whiteness,

194

Where in snowy sleep she dozes
Heedless of approaching brightness;
Sink oppressed among the leaves,
Where the gentle violet weaves
Meek enchantments, fragrant spells,
Breathings with which beauty quells;
Court the hyacinth sedate;
Dip into the foxglove bells;
All thy thirst with beauty sate,
Then again to heaven dart,
Fluttering like a maiden's heart.

IV.

What! away so soon? Thy splendour
Fades above me, bright pretender;
Where the lilac bloom is highest
Like a wingèd thought thou fliest,
Gathering from life's bitterness
All of sweet its charms possess.
Free from care thy spirit ranges
Through a life of little hours,
Brief and bright and full of changes.
Oh that such a fate were ours!

195

Fancy sickens in her musing:
Longing love a slave would be:
Pleasures cloy in too long using:
I would learn to live like thee.