 | The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes |  |
CAMILLA
AUGUST 9, 1855
The gray robe trailing round her feet,
She smiled and took the slippered stirrup
(A smile as sparkling, rosy, sweet,
As soda, drawn with strawberry syrup);—
Now, gallant, now! be strong and calm,—
The graceful toilet is completed,—
Her foot is in thy hollowed palm—
One little spring, and she is seated!
She smiled and took the slippered stirrup
(A smile as sparkling, rosy, sweet,
As soda, drawn with strawberry syrup);—
Now, gallant, now! be strong and calm,—
The graceful toilet is completed,—
Her foot is in thy hollowed palm—
One little spring, and she is seated!
No foot-print on the grass was seen,
The clover hardly bent beneath her,
I knew not if she pressed the green,
Or floated over it in ether;
Why, such an airy, fairy thing
Should carry ballast in her pocket,—
God bless me! If I help her spring
She'll shoot up heavenward like a rocket.
The clover hardly bent beneath her,
I knew not if she pressed the green,
Or floated over it in ether;
Why, such an airy, fairy thing
Should carry ballast in her pocket,—
God bless me! If I help her spring
She'll shoot up heavenward like a rocket.
Ah, fatal doubt! The sleepless power
That chains the orbs of light together,
Bends on its stem the slenderest flower
That lifts its plume from turf or heather;
Clasp, lady, clasp the bridle rein!
The filly stands—holds hard upon her!
Twine fast those fingers in her mane,
Or all is lost—excepting honor!
That chains the orbs of light together,
Bends on its stem the slenderest flower
That lifts its plume from turf or heather;
Clasp, lady, clasp the bridle rein!
The filly stands—holds hard upon her!
Twine fast those fingers in her mane,
Or all is lost—excepting honor!
Earth stretched his arms to snatch his prize,
The fairies shouted “Stand from under!”
The violets shut their purple eyes,
The naked daisies stared in wonder:
One moment.—Seated in her pride,
Those arms shall try in vain to win her;
“Earth claims her not,” the fairies cried,
“She has so little of it in her!”
The fairies shouted “Stand from under!”
The violets shut their purple eyes,
The naked daisies stared in wonder:
One moment.—Seated in her pride,
Those arms shall try in vain to win her;
“Earth claims her not,” the fairies cried,
“She has so little of it in her!”
| The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes | |