 | Lyra Pastoralis |  |
Blue Wings and Brown
Blue wings delight in azure skies,
Not yellow leaves, and landscape drear;
A Summer friend, the swallow flies
The falling fortunes of the year.
Not yellow leaves, and landscape drear;
A Summer friend, the swallow flies
The falling fortunes of the year.
19
No more that arrowy form we greet,
Crossing our path with sunny gleam,
Skimming along the village street,
Kissing its shadow in the stream.
Crossing our path with sunny gleam,
Skimming along the village street,
Kissing its shadow in the stream.
Blue wings have traversed the blue deep,
Inconstant favourites changed their sky;
And now o'er fairer fields they sweep,
Which under lovelier azure lie.
Inconstant favourites changed their sky;
And now o'er fairer fields they sweep,
Which under lovelier azure lie.
Brown wings are true to the brown trees,
And 'mid the branches red and sere
Sit crimson breasts, and sing at ease,
Contented with the fading year.
And 'mid the branches red and sere
Sit crimson breasts, and sing at ease,
Contented with the fading year.
A Winter friend, in snow and rain,
Flits Robin Redbreast to and fro,
He eyes us through the window-pane,
And brings a comfortable glow;
Flits Robin Redbreast to and fro,
He eyes us through the window-pane,
And brings a comfortable glow;
Blending with chastened fireside mirth,
And Christmas holly-berries red—
Dear token which the ransomed earth
Twines round her infant Saviour's head!
And Christmas holly-berries red—
Dear token which the ransomed earth
Twines round her infant Saviour's head!
| Lyra Pastoralis | |