 | A Wreath of Wild Flowers From New England |  |
362
“MY BUBBLE'S BURST—MY PIPE IS BROKEN!”
One eve, when Summer's rosiest hours,
To rich repose their Day-god drew;
I saw, half-hid, in smiling flowers,
A living blossom smiling too!
A being, pure, and wild, and fair,
As any rose-bud breathing there.
To rich repose their Day-god drew;
I saw, half-hid, in smiling flowers,
A living blossom smiling too!
A being, pure, and wild, and fair,
As any rose-bud breathing there.
It was a little playful girl,
Her lips apart,—her blue eyes raised,
While soft through many a silken curl,
With eager joy they upwards gazed:
I turned, and rising clear and light,
A sun-lit bubble met my sight.
Her lips apart,—her blue eyes raised,
While soft through many a silken curl,
With eager joy they upwards gazed:
I turned, and rising clear and light,
A sun-lit bubble met my sight.
In changeful beauty for a while,
The rounded rainbow floated on,
Returned the sun's rich farewell smile,
Then trembled,—faded, and was gone!
My sad eyes sought the child once more,
And she was gazing as before.
The rounded rainbow floated on,
Returned the sun's rich farewell smile,
Then trembled,—faded, and was gone!
My sad eyes sought the child once more,
And she was gazing as before.
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While to her earnest brow and eye,
A shade of silent thought had crept,
But soon she started eagerly,
And glanced around—then wildly wept.
For wreathed with flowers—a mockery sweet,
Her pipe lay broken at her feet.
A shade of silent thought had crept,
But soon she started eagerly,
And glanced around—then wildly wept.
For wreathed with flowers—a mockery sweet,
Her pipe lay broken at her feet.
Delighted with the radiant toy,
That simple pipe had lightly given,
She'd flung it there in thoughtless joy,
To see her bubble rise to Heaven.
Low words stole forth—the first she'd spoken,
“My bubble's burst—my pipe is broken!”
That simple pipe had lightly given,
She'd flung it there in thoughtless joy,
To see her bubble rise to Heaven.
Low words stole forth—the first she'd spoken,
“My bubble's burst—my pipe is broken!”
Years came and went—the child had blushed
To deeper, lovelier bloom, and now,
A woman's soul the fair cheek flushed,
A woman's feeling lit the brow.
Again I saw that graceful head,
On downy pillows lightly laid.
To deeper, lovelier bloom, and now,
A woman's soul the fair cheek flushed,
A woman's feeling lit the brow.
Again I saw that graceful head,
On downy pillows lightly laid.
Sweet dreams of holy Love, did fill
Her maiden heart with Heaven;—but while
The rich glow deepened richer still,
The red lip wore a sunnier smile.
Her sleep was troubled—she awoke,
And the rose faded as she spoke.
Her maiden heart with Heaven;—but while
The rich glow deepened richer still,
The red lip wore a sunnier smile.
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And the rose faded as she spoke.
The same bright eyes before me shone,
That watched the bubble soar on high,
And wildly sweet the thrilling tone
Of that soft evening hour went by.
And still, with tears her thought was spoken,
“My dream hath fled—the spell is broken!”
That watched the bubble soar on high,
And wildly sweet the thrilling tone
Of that soft evening hour went by.
And still, with tears her thought was spoken,
“My dream hath fled—the spell is broken!”
“Years came and went,” and left the trace
Of many a sorrow on her brow;
But once again I saw that face,
Alas! how sad its sweetness now!
Consumption nursed the hectic tinge,
Beneath her dark eye's drooping fringe.
Of many a sorrow on her brow;
But once again I saw that face,
Alas! how sad its sweetness now!
Consumption nursed the hectic tinge,
Beneath her dark eye's drooping fringe.
The breathing smile—once bright and warm,
With the rich dreams her heart had cherish'd,—
Had that too darkened in the storm,
Where bloom, and light, and joy had perished?
Ah! worn away with grief unspoken,
The smile was gone—the heart was broken!
With the rich dreams her heart had cherish'd,—
Had that too darkened in the storm,
Where bloom, and light, and joy had perished?
Ah! worn away with grief unspoken,
The smile was gone—the heart was broken!
| A Wreath of Wild Flowers From New England | |