The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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MORNING IN MAY. |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
MORNING IN MAY.
The cascade's white mist o'er the trees is uprearing
Its white curling head from the valley below,
The bright glitt'ring dew-drops, like em'ralds appearing,
All waken at once with Aurora to glow!
Its white curling head from the valley below,
The bright glitt'ring dew-drops, like em'ralds appearing,
All waken at once with Aurora to glow!
The dark low'ring tempests of winter are over,
And sweet is the breath of the high mountain gale;
The hare leaves her favourite fields of white clover,
And starts as she treads the dry leaves in the vale.
And sweet is the breath of the high mountain gale;
The hare leaves her favourite fields of white clover,
And starts as she treads the dry leaves in the vale.
184
The rooks and the ring-doves are flown to the fallow;
From their dew-sprinkled pillows the daisies awake;
From the thatch of the cottage skims forth the swift swallow,
And strikes into circles the smooth polished lake.
From their dew-sprinkled pillows the daisies awake;
From the thatch of the cottage skims forth the swift swallow,
And strikes into circles the smooth polished lake.
Near the stream the winds move not the weak-waving willow;
The cattle are laid on the bright dewy hill;
On the clear rippled stream hushed to rest ev'ry billow,—
The day-busy sons of the hamlet are still.
The cattle are laid on the bright dewy hill;
On the clear rippled stream hushed to rest ev'ry billow,—
The day-busy sons of the hamlet are still.
Hark! the birds are all chanting their song of the morning,
Ye virgins, inviting to fields decked with dew!
The fresh op'ning flowers will greet your returning,
And bow their sweet heads in pure homage to you.
Ye virgins, inviting to fields decked with dew!
The fresh op'ning flowers will greet your returning,
And bow their sweet heads in pure homage to you.
Blithe Health on the mountain sits smiling thus early,
With young Vernal Sweetness, her sister, in green,
While Virtue, their mother, who loves them so dearly,
Points out to her daughters the beautiful scene.
With young Vernal Sweetness, her sister, in green,
While Virtue, their mother, who loves them so dearly,
Points out to her daughters the beautiful scene.
They call on the youths and the innocent lasses
To see the rich beauties of nature half dressed,
Forget all their joy-killing grief as it passes,
Live happy and love, for such moments are blessed.
To see the rich beauties of nature half dressed,
Forget all their joy-killing grief as it passes,
Live happy and love, for such moments are blessed.
185
They sit on the hill where the bullfinch is bending,
In beautiful plumage, the weak birchen bough;
With gay feathered songsters their mellow notes blending,
In sweet rural chords, where the sloe-blossoms grow,
In beautiful plumage, the weak birchen bough;
With gay feathered songsters their mellow notes blending,
In sweet rural chords, where the sloe-blossoms grow,
But to sing of the rich varied landscape before us,
With all the fine beauties that Nature displays,
Requires all the muses to join in the chorus,
And sweet smiling cherubs to chant in its praise!
With all the fine beauties that Nature displays,
Requires all the muses to join in the chorus,
And sweet smiling cherubs to chant in its praise!
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |