University of Virginia Library


48

ST LUKE'S SUMMER

This is St Luke, his Summer: you shall see
The Spirit of Summer flit by hill and lea.
The Earth turns from her dying to rejoice
Thinking the Spring comes, from the robin's voice
She takes to be the thrush's. Oh, she is young
She was but dreaming she was old so long.
This is St Luke, his Summer: silver of mist
Covers the mountains, shot with amethyst.
The heat lies in the valleys: sheep and kine
Are glad deep down in opal and sapphirine.
Cool dews about their feet and springing grass
They think: How like a dream the Winters pass.
The bee goes questing for honey in amaze
To find so few flowers in the golden ways
And all the trees barred like himself in gold.
He thinks Winter a story that is told,
So pale the Summer goes like a sweet ghost
A little while before the nipping frost.