Weeds by the Wall Part 7

II.

A moth, like down, swings on th' althaea's pistil,-- Ghost of a tone that haunts its bell's deep dome;-- And in the August-lily's cone of crystal A firefly blurs, the lantern of a gnome, Green as a gem that gleams through hollow foam.

Approach! the moment flies!

Thou sweetheart of the South!

Come! mingle with night's mysteries The red rose of thy mouth, The starlight of thine eyes.-- Approach! the moment flies!

III.

Dim through the dusk, like some unearthly presence, Bubbles the Slumber-song of some wild bird; And with it borne, faint on a breeze-sweet essence, The rainy murmur of a fountain's heard-- As if young lips had breathed a perfumed word.

How long, my love, my bliss!

How long must I await With night,--that all impatience is,-- Thy greeting at the gate, And at the gate thy kiss?

How long, my love, my bliss!

FLORIDIAN.

I.

The cactus and the aloe bloom Beneath the window of your room; Your window where, at evenfall, Beneath the twilight's first pale star, You linger, tall and spiritual, And hearken my guitar.

It is the hour When every flower Is wooed by moth or bee-- Would, would you were the flower, dear, And I the moth to draw you near, To draw you near to me, My dear, To draw you near to me.

II.

The jasmine and bignonia spill Their balm around your windowsill; The sill where, when magnolia-white, In foliage mists, the moon hangs far, You lean with bright deep eyes of night And hearken my guitar.

It is the hour When from each flower The wind woos fragrances-- Would, would you were the flower, love, And I the wind to breathe above, To breathe above and kiss, My love, To breathe above and kiss.

THE GOLDEN HOUR.

I.

She comes,--the dreamy daughter Of day and night,--a girl, Who o'er the western water Lifts up her moon of pearl: Like some Rebecca at the well, Who fills her jar of crystal sh.e.l.l, Down ways of dew, o'er dale and dell, Dusk comes with dreams of you, Of you, Dusk comes with dreams of you.

II.

She comes, the serious sister Of all the stars that strew The deeps of G.o.d, and glister Bright on the darkling blue: Like some loved Ruth, who heaps her arm With golden gleanings of the farm, Down fields of stars, where shadows swarm, Dusk comes with thoughts of you, Of you, Dusk comes with thoughts of you.

III.

She comes, and soft winds greet her, And whispering odors woo; She is the words and meter They set their music to: Like Israfel, a spirit fair, Whose heart's a silvery dulcimer, Down listening slopes of earth and air Dusk comes with love of you, Of you, Dusk comes with love of you.

REED CALL FOR APRIL.

I.

When April comes, and pelts with buds And apple-blooms each orchard s.p.a.ce, And takes the dog-wood-whitened woods With rain and suns.h.i.+ne of her moods, Like your fair face, like your fair face:

It's honey for the bloom and dew, And honey for the heart!

And, oh, to be away with you Beyond the town and mart.

II.

When April comes, and tints the hills With gold and beryl that rejoice, And from her airy ap.r.o.n spills The laughter of the winds and rills, Like your young voice, like your young voice:

It's gladness for G.o.d's bending blue, And gladness for the heart!

And, oh, to be away with you Beyond the town and mart.

III.

When April comes, and binds and girds The world with warmth that breathes above, And to the breeze flings all her birds, Whose songs are welcome as the words Of you I love, of you I love:

It's music for all things that woo, And music for the heart!

And, oh, to be away with you Beyond the town and mart.

"THE YEARS WHEREIN I NEVER KNEW."

The years, wherein I never knew Such beauty as is yours,--so fraught With truth and kindness looking through Your loveliness,--I count them naught, O girl, so like a lily wrought!

The years wherein I knew not you.

Ah, let me see you always so!-- A dream that haunts my memory's sight-- Your hair of moonlight, face of snow, And eyes, blue stars of laughing light, O girl, so like a lily white!

Through all the years that come and go.

True to you only, in my heart I wear your spirit miniature, Sincere in simpleness of art, That makes my love to still endure, O girl, so like a lily pure!

Through years that keep us still apart.