 | Miscellaneous poems |  |
84
TO A MOTH,
THAT ONE EVENING, EARLY IN THE SPRING, FLEW IN AT THE WINDOW, AND PLAY'D ROUND THE CANDLE.
Little flutt'ring, fragile being,
Lively harbinger of spring,
Welcome to my humble dwelling,
Welcome is the news you bring.
Lively harbinger of spring,
Welcome to my humble dwelling,
Welcome is the news you bring.
You say, the wintry season's over,
Chilling storm and biting frost;
That the fields will soon recover
All the verdure they had lost.
Chilling storm and biting frost;
That the fields will soon recover
All the verdure they had lost.
Ah! beware, gay little stranger;
Go not near yon dazzling light;
Why, unconscious of thy danger,
Round it dost thou wing thy flight?
Go not near yon dazzling light;
85
Round it dost thou wing thy flight?
By its splendour fascinated,
Nearer, and nearer wilt thou fly?
Ah! poor fool, I see thou'rt fated
In th' alluring flame to die.
Nearer, and nearer wilt thou fly?
Ah! poor fool, I see thou'rt fated
In th' alluring flame to die.
So, by merit oft attracted,
The heart susceptible admires;
Basks in the pow'rful rays refracted—
In the subtile flame expires;
The heart susceptible admires;
Basks in the pow'rful rays refracted—
In the subtile flame expires;
Too late acquainted with its danger,
Fain would the fascination fly;
But ah! like thee, poor little stranger,
'Tis doom'd to flutter, yield, and die.
Fain would the fascination fly;
But ah! like thee, poor little stranger,
'Tis doom'd to flutter, yield, and die.
| Miscellaneous poems | |