MARK ye not the sunbeams glancing Through the cool green shade, On the waving fern-leaves dancing, In the quiet glade? See you how they change and quiver Where the broad oaks rise, Rippling like a golden river From their fountain skies? On the gray old timber resting Like a sleeping dove, Like a fairy grandchild nestling In an old man's love. On the dusty pathway tracing Arabesques with golden style; Light and shadow interlacing, Like a tearful smile. Many a hidden leaf revealing, Many an unseen flower; Like a maiden lightly stealing Past each secret bower. Oh! how beautiful they make it Everywhere they fall; Sunbeams! why will ye forsake it At pale Evening's call? In the arching thickets linger, In the woodland aisle, Gilding them with trembling finger, Yet a little while. Then, your last calm radiance pouring, Bid the earth good-night; Like a sainted spirit soaring To a home of light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SOJOURN IN THE WHALE by MARIANNE MOORE THE WHITE COMRADE (AFTER W.H. LEATHAM'S 'THE COMRADE IN WHIRE') by ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUFFLER ON THE PRAIRIE by HERBERT BATES TO MRS W. ON HER EXCELLENT VERSES WRITTEN IN A FIT OF SICKNESS by APHRA BEHN THE PLACE OF FAME by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB LINES TO JULIA M --; SENT WITH A COPY OF THE AUTHOR'S POEMS by THOMAS CAMPBELL MASQUE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF SOMERSET: A SQUIRE SPEAKS by THOMAS CAMPION |