When leaves, in evenèn winds, do vlee, Where mornèn aïr did strip the tree, The mind can waït vor boughs in spring To cool the elem-sheäded ring. Where orcha'd blooth's white sceäles do vall Mid come the apple's blushèn ball. Our hopes be new, as time do goo, A-measur'd by the zun on high, Avore our jaÿs do pass us by. When ice did melt below the zun, An' weäves along the streäm did run, I hoped in Maÿ's bright froth to roll, Lik' jess'my in a lily's bowl. Or, if I lost my loose-bow'd swing, My wrigglèn kite mid pull my string, An' when noo ball did rise an' vall, Zome other geäme wud still be nigh, Avore my jaÿs all pass'd me by. I look'd, as childhood pass'd along, To walk, in leäter years, man-strong, An' look'd ageän, in manhood's pride, To manhood's sweetest chaïce, a bride: An' then to childern, that mid come To meäke my house a dearer hwome. But now my mind do look behind Vor jaÿs; an' wonder, wi' a sigh, When 'twer my jaÿs all pass'd me by. Wer it when, woonce, I miss'd a call To rise, an' seem'd to have a vall? Or when my Jeäne to my hands left Her vew bright keys, a dolevul heft? Or when avore the door I stood, To watch a child a-gone vor good? Or where zome crowd did laugh aloud; Or when the leaves did spring, or die? When did my jaÿ all pass me by? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CRADLE SONG, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE IN THE MILE END ROAD by AMY LEVY UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN by ALICE MEYNELL SOMETIME by MAY LOUISE RILEY SMITH SPRING IN WAR TIME by SARA TEASDALE |