 | Harvest-Home (1805) |  |
ON MARGARET PICKARD'S ENTERING HER SIXTH YEAR, JANUARY 1, 1802.
Of Birth-day lines to Girls and Boys,
Though, like themselves, so smooth and pretty,
I think them worse than children's toys,
Or than the Bellman's Christmas ditty.
Though, like themselves, so smooth and pretty,
I think them worse than children's toys,
Or than the Bellman's Christmas ditty.
170
Such fuss is made of forms and features,
Of Daddy's virtues, Mammy's graces,—
They're just like pills to the sweet Creatures,
Who take 'em, not without wry faces.
Of Daddy's virtues, Mammy's graces,—
They're just like pills to the sweet Creatures,
Who take 'em, not without wry faces.
Yet when a thousand things combine
And mix, dear Margaret! as in you,
One should not wonder if the Nine
In an old theme found something new.
And mix, dear Margaret! as in you,
One should not wonder if the Nine
In an old theme found something new.
In you, sweet non-descript, each Muse,
Were there, instead of nine, a score,
Her darling attribute might choose
Till the Mythology was o'er:
Were there, instead of nine, a score,
Her darling attribute might choose
Till the Mythology was o'er:
For in that little head and mind,
And in those little lips and eyes,
A young Euphrosyne we find,
Minerva speaks, and Venus lies!
And in those little lips and eyes,
A young Euphrosyne we find,
Minerva speaks, and Venus lies!
Your fun, your frolic, and sweet folly,
Roguish caprices and conceits,
Your moments of soft melancholy,
Frisks, bounds, and gay fantastic feats,
Roguish caprices and conceits,
Your moments of soft melancholy,
Frisks, bounds, and gay fantastic feats,
Are quite enough upon this day
To make Olympus tune its lyres,
And every year descend to play
Whatever Margaret inspires!
To make Olympus tune its lyres,
And every year descend to play
Whatever Margaret inspires!
| Harvest-Home (1805) | |