 | The poetical works of Lucy Larcom |  |
MOONSHINE.
My little pet sat in the moonshine,
A square of light on the floor,
Shaped by the open window;
And its halo dim he wore.
A square of light on the floor,
Shaped by the open window;
And its halo dim he wore.
It turned his hair to spun silver,
His robe into folds of pearl;
Yet it was but a linen nightgown,
A tangle of flaxen curl.
His robe into folds of pearl;
Yet it was but a linen nightgown,
A tangle of flaxen curl.
He was there at play, white nestling!
A moment before he slept;
And he patted and kissed the moonbeams,
And, cooing, across them crept.
A moment before he slept;
And he patted and kissed the moonbeams,
And, cooing, across them crept.
“Bring us the moonshine, baby!”
Quick sprang the little feet;
Scooping it up by lapfuls,
Hurried the fingers sweet,
Quick sprang the little feet;
Scooping it up by lapfuls,
Hurried the fingers sweet,
To load us with unseen treasure.
He saw it, bright and plain;
Never doubted the baby
Ours was a real gain.
He saw it, bright and plain;
Never doubted the baby
Ours was a real gain.
Firmly we also believed it;
For, after he was asleep,
We had his moonlit picture
Always our own to keep.
For, after he was asleep,
123
Always our own to keep.
It has not grown old, or faded;
It will not, it never can.
We shall have it still to look at,
When he is a bearded man.
It will not, it never can.
We shall have it still to look at,
When he is a bearded man.
If then he should win great riches,
He cannot bestow a gift
So rare as the one he brought us
Out of the moonbeams' drift.
He cannot bestow a gift
So rare as the one he brought us
Out of the moonbeams' drift.
May he never lose faith in moonshine!
The ore that glimmers and streams
From the mountain-clefts of beauty,
In the far-off world of dreams!
The ore that glimmers and streams
From the mountain-clefts of beauty,
In the far-off world of dreams!
Right royally may he scatter
The wealth of unfathomed skies,
The fine gold and sheeny silver
From the mines of Paradise!
The wealth of unfathomed skies,
The fine gold and sheeny silver
From the mines of Paradise!
| The poetical works of Lucy Larcom | |