HER eyelids dropp'd their silken eaves, Sometimes I let a sunbeam slip KEATS. I STOOD tiptoe upon a little hill, The air was cooling, and so very still, That the sweet buds which with a modest pride Pull droopingly, in slanting curve aside, Caught from the early sobbing of the morn. The clouds were pure and white as flocks new shorn, A little noiseless noise among the leaves, Far round the horizon's crystal air to skim, And trace the dwindled edgings of its brim; To picture out the quaint and curious bending Or by the bowery clefts, and leafy shelves, Guess where the jaunty streams refresh themselves. I gazed awhile, and felt as light and free As though the fanning wings of Mercury A bush of May-flowers with the bees about them; And let long grass grow round the roots, to keep them Moist, cool, and green; and shade the violets, That they may bind the moss in leafy nets. 36 A filbert-hedge with wild-brier overtwined, And clumps of woodbine taking the soft wind Upon their summer thrones; there too should be The frequent-chequer of a youngling tree, That with a score of light green brethren shoots From the quaint mossiness of aged roots: Round which is heard a spring-head of clear waters, Babbling so wildly of its lovely daughters, The spreading blue-bells: it may haply mourn That such fair clusters should be rudely torn From their fresh beds, and scatter'd thoughtlessly By infant hands, left on the path to die. Open afresh your round of starry folds, Dry up the moisture from your golden lids, That in these days your praises should be sung Here are sweet peas, on tiptoe for a flight: To the o'erhanging sallows: blades of grass 37 |