VERY fair the child was, with hair of darkest auburn, -- Fair, and yet sunburnt with the golden summer: Sunshine seem'd the element from which she drew her being. Careless from her little hand the gather'd ears are scatter'd, In a graceful wreath the purple corn-flowers binding; While her sweet face brightens with a sudden pleasure. Blame not her binding: already stirs within her All the deep emotions in the love of nature, -- Love, that is the source of the beautiful and holy. In long-after years will memory, recalling Sweetness undying from that early garland, Keep the heart glad with natural devotion. 'Tis a true, sweet lesson; for, in life's actual harvest, Much we need the flowers that mingle with our labours. Pleasures, pure and simple, recall us to their Giver; For ever, in its joy, does the full heart think of Heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO DISRAELI ON CONSERVATISM by MARIANNE MOORE KATHMANDU GUEST HOUSE by KAREN SWENSON THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS by ABRAHAM LINCOLN SING-SONG; A NURSERY RHYME BOOK: 93 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI PSALM 150 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |