Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IDLE, by ALICE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IDLE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I heard the gay spring coming
Last Line: A-dreaming idle dreams.
Subject(s): Dreams; Nightmares


I HEARD the gay spring coming,
I saw the clover blooming,
Red and white along the meadows;
Red and white along the streams;
I heard the bluebird singing,
I saw the green grass springing,
All as I lay a-dreaming, --
A-dreaming idle dreams.

I heard the ploughman's whistle,
I saw the rough burr thistle
In the sharp teeth of the harrow, --
Saw the summer's yellow gleams
In the walnuts, in the fennel,
In the mulleins, lined with flannel,
All as I lay a-dreaming, --
A-dreaming idle dreams.

I felt the warm, bright weather;
Saw the harvest, -- saw them gather
Corn and millet, wheat and apples, --
Saw the gray barns with their seams
Pressing wide, -- the bare-armed shearers, --
The ruddy water-bearers, --
All as I lay a-dreaming, --
A-dreaming idle dreams.

The bluebird and her nestling
Flew away; the leaves fell rustling,
The cold rain killed the roses,
The sun withdrew his beams;
No creature cared about me,
The world could do without me,
All as I lay a-dreaming, --
A-dreaming idle dreams.





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