 | Poems by James Rhoades |  |
31
SONG OF A LEAF.
O happy bark! for thou canst go
Or up, or down the dancing tide;
And happy rowers! while ye row,
And on your willing oars confide,
Far past the island-solitude,
And through the wonders of the wood
On any night or day.
Or up, or down the dancing tide;
And happy rowers! while ye row,
And on your willing oars confide,
Far past the island-solitude,
And through the wonders of the wood
On any night or day.
O happy birds! that float at ease,
For hither, thither may ye fare:
And if the present should not please,
Content ye wander otherwhere,
Quite sure to fix your roving mood
With isle or wonders of the wood,
Be fickle as ye may.
For hither, thither may ye fare:
And if the present should not please,
Content ye wander otherwhere,
Quite sure to fix your roving mood
With isle or wonders of the wood,
Be fickle as ye may.
32
But as for me, ah! woe is me!
For Autumn-winds were wildly blowing;
I slipped from off my golden tree,
Nor saw nor heard the torrent flowing!
Now borne upon this breathless flood
I follow far from isle and wood
My unreturning way.
For Autumn-winds were wildly blowing;
I slipped from off my golden tree,
Nor saw nor heard the torrent flowing!
Now borne upon this breathless flood
I follow far from isle and wood
My unreturning way.
| Poems by James Rhoades | |