Alexis seized a prisoned butterfly To set it free, on a bright morn of May; But the kind touch brushed half the tints away From the rich wings, though handled tenderly. Then spake he out to bashful Isabel, - 'Behold sweet Nature's venturous faith! and say, Why thou dost aye refuse thy heart to stay On mine, that is so fond and loves so well? Is beauty trusted to the morning dews? And to the butterfly's mischanceful wing? To the dissolving cloud in rainbow hues? To the frail tenure of an early spring, In blossoms and in dyes? And must I lose Claim to such trust, - all Nature's underling?' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON by GEOFFREY CHAUCER PUTTIN' THE BABY AWAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR BACCHUS by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE DISCOVERY; SONNET by JOHN COLLINGS SQUIRE THE PRINCESS: SONG by ALFRED TENNYSON IN ANSWER TO QUESTION FROM GREEK GRAMMAR: WHAT FUTURES SPEAK by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD RETIREMENT: AN ODE by JAMES BEATTIE |