 | Nature-notes and impressions in prose and verse |  |
[I saw sweet Summer go]
I saw sweet Summer go
Into a woodland green,
Unto a sliding stream,
A drowsy water;
With cheeks of sunset glow
Dreaming she seemed to lean,
Dreaming a wild-wood dream,
The wood's wild daughter.
Into a woodland green,
Unto a sliding stream,
A drowsy water;
With cheeks of sunset glow
Dreaming she seemed to lean,
Dreaming a wild-wood dream,
The wood's wild daughter.
She seemed to smile, then weep,
Then lift, then bow her head,
Deep with its golden hair,
Sad as some maiden
Who loveless falls asleep,
Her eyes to sorrow wed,
Her cheeks as wild flowers fair
With dewdrops laden.
Then lift, then bow her head,
Deep with its golden hair,
Sad as some maiden
Who loveless falls asleep,
Her eyes to sorrow wed,
Her cheeks as wild flowers fair
With dewdrops laden.
33
I heard the streamlet moan;
I heard the wood-wind wail;
I heard the forest sob:
“Summer is dying!”
Whiter she lay than stone,
And down each dell and dale
I heard the wild heart-throb
Of Nature sighing:—
I heard the wood-wind wail;
I heard the forest sob:
“Summer is dying!”
Whiter she lay than stone,
And down each dell and dale
I heard the wild heart-throb
Of Nature sighing:—
“Come back!—Oh, art thou dead,
Thou, thou my sweetest child?
Come back with all thy flowers!”—
But naught she heeded,
Lying with wild-flowered head
In beauty undefiled,
While 'round her sad the Hours
Bowed down and pleaded.
Thou, thou my sweetest child?
Come back with all thy flowers!”—
But naught she heeded,
Lying with wild-flowered head
In beauty undefiled,
While 'round her sad the Hours
Bowed down and pleaded.
Then through the woodland there,
With ribbons flying gay,
Mocking at Summer's death
With laughter hollow,
Tossing her gipsy hair,
In Romany array,
Autumn, all wild of breath,
Cried, “Follow! follow!”
With ribbons flying gay,
Mocking at Summer's death
With laughter hollow,
Tossing her gipsy hair,
In Romany array,
Autumn, all wild of breath,
Cried, “Follow! follow!”
| Nature-notes and impressions in prose and verse | |