 | Poems |  |
COLUMBINE.
Little dancing harlequin!
Thou thy scarlet bells dost ring
When the merry western wind
Gives their slender stems a swing;
Every yellow butterfly,
Poising on the fragrant air:
Glittering insects everywhere,
Moths that in the dead leaves lie,
List the tinkling chime that tells
Of the Spring's aerial spells.
Thou thy scarlet bells dost ring
When the merry western wind
Gives their slender stems a swing;
Every yellow butterfly,
Poising on the fragrant air:
Glittering insects everywhere,
Moths that in the dead leaves lie,
List the tinkling chime that tells
Of the Spring's aerial spells.
In the long and shining days
May-time brings to mother Earth,
From the stony crevices
Dry with sun and grey with dearth,
Where no other bloom can cling,
Thou dost lift thy dainty spire,
Slight and subtle mist of fire
O'er the rock face shimmering,
Nodding, swaying, scattering wide
Flame and gold on every side.
May-time brings to mother Earth,
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Dry with sun and grey with dearth,
Where no other bloom can cling,
Thou dost lift thy dainty spire,
Slight and subtle mist of fire
O'er the rock face shimmering,
Nodding, swaying, scattering wide
Flame and gold on every side.
No faint odor fills thy cup:
Nothing knowest thou but cheer.
Over thee no memory
Floats its pennant sad and dear.
Gay and fleeting as is laughter,
Or a little joyful song
Wandering the woods along,
That no echo cometh after:
Idle moth and strenuous bee
Know what honey dwells in thee.
Nothing knowest thou but cheer.
Over thee no memory
Floats its pennant sad and dear.
Gay and fleeting as is laughter,
Or a little joyful song
Wandering the woods along,
That no echo cometh after:
Idle moth and strenuous bee
Know what honey dwells in thee.
When thy motley opens wide,
Then the summer draweth near;
Then the sunshine shall abide,
Vanished is the winter fear.
Snowdrifts never come again
When thou standest sentinel,
Shouting gayly: “All is well,”
To the blooms on hill and plain
Summer-bringing columbine,
Make thy happy errand mine!
Then the summer draweth near;
Then the sunshine shall abide,
Vanished is the winter fear.
Snowdrifts never come again
When thou standest sentinel,
Shouting gayly: “All is well,”
To the blooms on hill and plain
Summer-bringing columbine,
Make thy happy errand mine!
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