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18
HAW-BLOSSOMS.
While yesterevening, through the vale
Descending from my cottage door
I strayed, how cool and fresh a look
All nature wore.
Descending from my cottage door
I strayed, how cool and fresh a look
All nature wore.
The calmïas and golden-rods,
And tender blossoms of the haw,
Like maidens seated in the wood,
Demure, I saw.
And tender blossoms of the haw,
Like maidens seated in the wood,
Demure, I saw.
The recent drops upon their leaves
Shone brighter than the bluest eyes
And filled the little sheltered dell
Their fragrant sighs.
Shone brighter than the bluest eyes
And filled the little sheltered dell
Their fragrant sighs.
19
Their pliant arms they interlaced,
As pleasant canopies they were:
Their blossoms swung against my cheek
Like braids of hair.
As pleasant canopies they were:
Their blossoms swung against my cheek
Like braids of hair.
And when I put their boughs aside
And stooped to pass, from overhead
The little agitated things
A shower shed
And stooped to pass, from overhead
The little agitated things
A shower shed
Of tears. Then thoughtfully I spoke;
Well represent ye maidenhood,
Sweet flowers. Life is to the young
A shady wood.
Well represent ye maidenhood,
Sweet flowers. Life is to the young
A shady wood.
And therein some like golden-rods,
For grosser purposes designed,
A gay existence lead, but leave
No germ behind.
For grosser purposes designed,
A gay existence lead, but leave
No germ behind.
20
And others like the calmïas,
On cliff-sides inaccessible,
Bloom paramount, the vale with sweets
Yet never fill.
On cliff-sides inaccessible,
Bloom paramount, the vale with sweets
Yet never fill.
But underneath the glossy leaves,
When, working out the perfect law,
The blossoms white and fragrant still
Drop from the haw;
When, working out the perfect law,
The blossoms white and fragrant still
Drop from the haw;
Like worthy deeds in silence wrought
And secret, through the lapse of years,
In clusters pale and delicate
The fruit appears.
And secret, through the lapse of years,
In clusters pale and delicate
The fruit appears.
In clusters pale and delicate
But waxing heavier each day,
Until the many-colored leaves
Drift from the spray.
But waxing heavier each day,
Until the many-colored leaves
Drift from the spray.
21
Then pendulous, like amethysts
And rubies, purple ripe and red,
Wherewith God's feathered pensioners
In flocks are fed.
And rubies, purple ripe and red,
Wherewith God's feathered pensioners
In flocks are fed.
Therefore, sweet reader of this rhyme,
Be unto thee examples high
Not calmïas and golden-rods
That scentless die:
Be unto thee examples high
Not calmïas and golden-rods
That scentless die:
But the meek blossoms of the haw,
That fragrant are wherever wind
The forest paths, and perishing
Leave fruits behind.
That fragrant are wherever wind
The forest paths, and perishing
Leave fruits behind.
1846.
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