Poetry of the Farm and Rural Life Connecticut River reeds blown by the "Peasant Bard" |
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| 2. | II. CHESTNUT. |
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 | Poetry of the Farm and Rural Life |  |
II. CHESTNUT.
How beautiful the picture is that nature spreads to-day!
For autumn clothes her second-born in fanciful array;
And through the hazy lift the sun a softened splendor sends,
That wraps the scene in quietude,—a sweet enchantment lends.
For autumn clothes her second-born in fanciful array;
And through the hazy lift the sun a softened splendor sends,
That wraps the scene in quietude,—a sweet enchantment lends.
How like to elves in elfin land yon troop of children go,
Turning the hill-side leaves to find the bright brown nut below!
And every treasure brings a shout, and brings all there to see,
Like as the eddying gust collects the honors of the tree.
Turning the hill-side leaves to find the bright brown nut below!
And every treasure brings a shout, and brings all there to see,
Like as the eddying gust collects the honors of the tree.
The jay, that in the summer days was scarcely seen at all,
Flits frequent through the pictured bush, and startles with its call,
And seems to warn its feathered mates, with quick and earnest cries,
Beware of Winter's biting breath, and bitter scowling skies!
Flits frequent through the pictured bush, and startles with its call,
And seems to warn its feathered mates, with quick and earnest cries,
Beware of Winter's biting breath, and bitter scowling skies!
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The squirrel on the mossy log, within the hollow wood,
Clucks loud to tell that he's secured a store of winter food;
His kinsman clad in “hoddin gray,” the hunter fain would see,
With tiny claws goes scratching up the rough, nut-bearing tree.
Clucks loud to tell that he's secured a store of winter food;
His kinsman clad in “hoddin gray,” the hunter fain would see,
With tiny claws goes scratching up the rough, nut-bearing tree.
The duck, within the dented shore, where spreads the mimic bay,
Sits silent, motionless, save when a ripple rounds away;
And seems to watch the colored tints reflected from below,
Or list Dominion's coming step, so stealthy, and so slow!
Sits silent, motionless, save when a ripple rounds away;
And seems to watch the colored tints reflected from below,
Or list Dominion's coming step, so stealthy, and so slow!
I see the waters of the brook, that in the summer time
Went singing onward down the vale, a kind of “catch-me” chime,—
Now seem to linger by the bank, and linger by the brae,
As if all loth, from such a scene, to run in haste away.
Went singing onward down the vale, a kind of “catch-me” chime,—
Now seem to linger by the bank, and linger by the brae,
As if all loth, from such a scene, to run in haste away.
Can fairy land,—can “land of dreams,” such scene enchanting show?
So soft the heavens smile above! so glad the earth below!
As if millennial angels had their banners bright unfurled,
And Peace, dear Peace! her censer swung in sweetness o'er the world!
So soft the heavens smile above! so glad the earth below!
As if millennial angels had their banners bright unfurled,
And Peace, dear Peace! her censer swung in sweetness o'er the world!
| Poetry of the Farm and Rural Life | |