Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO CHILDREN: 3. THE GOLDEN DAY, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO CHILDREN: 3. THE GOLDEN DAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When dim across the lawn, before the break o' day, their gleams are grown
Last Line: And, safe from storm, wide wings and warm enfold our sleep again!
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


When dim across the lawn, before the break o' day, their gleams are grown,
The lights o' dew, the sprites o' dew, that flit to find their cloud,
In golden-dappled forest glooms still richer, rarer dreams are shown,
Where harebells flicker drenched in sun, and wood-doves sob aloud.

Then, heart, 'tis up and far to be this day of all the days o' dream!
Through woodland rides of woven boughs, by pools of laughing light,
'Tis light of foot and young and wild to seek the woodland ways o' dream,
To race in thrilling freedom with all forest things in flight.

We'll dance adown the billowing hills. Gay-plumaged birds shall soar to us.
We'll plunge in thickets berry-bright and stain our lips with mirth.
We'll stretch our arms to waterfalls with laughter as they roar to us,
The fruits and flowers of childhood ours -- the plenty-horn of earth!

Oh, we'll be wild and young and free! The hare shall blink bright eye to us.
The dappled deer shall nuzzle us and race to lead us on.
No woodland way shall covert be, no woodland creature shy to us.
And night shall be bird-minstrelsy outrivaling the dawn.

Oh, we'll be gay and rollick too, our throats athrill with caroling,
Your hair with rippling sunlight one, your lips apart for joy!
Of hue and scent of sky and wood we'll weave our rare appareling.
The sun shall be our bauble then -- the silver moon our toy!

So, tired with day, on twilight heights when sunset rivers darkening
Bring night on far horizons, and the stars to gem the night,
We'll watch the lustrous moon arise, to far field-music harkening,
Till fireflies dance the purple dales, and slumber veils our sight.

And then, within the court of sleep, where man and beast lie down at last,
Where shadows weave, and wistfully the radiant visions rain,
Between the moonrise and the sun bright dreams shall prove our crown at last,
And, safe from storm, wide wings and warm enfold our sleep again!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net