University of Virginia Library


158

LINES TO A CHILD.

(Polly Mayflower, of New South Wales.)

O, Mayflower! grave as morning light—
As silent—and as fair;
And thoughtful, with half closing eyes,
Oft hid in saffron hair;—
What dost thou think of, Polly,
By day, or noon, or night?
Thy childhood is too wise
For the world's busy folly.
It surely, Mayflower, can't be that,—
For in the noisy scene
Thou never yet hast been,
Nor in its shadows sat.
Half dreaming thou dost stand:—
Oh, take me to thy Land,
Wherever that may be!
In childhood's sweet romance,
Where fairies sing and dance,
And heavenly visions glance
Like sunrise through a tree!
And something more, I ween,
Than ever can be seen,
Or ever will be heard—
Teems in thy voiceless thought,
With twilight reasonings fraught,
As song pervades the bird
While mute it sits amidst the foliage green.