Classic Poem

When summer winds begin to woo
And hayfields to look hoar,
When cloudless skies are golden blue,
And calm the ocean shore:

When Neptune's silvery curls are thrown
Each moment on the strand,
Yet frailer than thy jetty own,
To perish in my hand:

When slumbering as the billows swing
Upon her watery slide,
The Halcyon with her silken wing
Flatters the gentle tide:

And cradled in her pearly boat
Safe-hooded from the sea,
Smooth on the Nautilus shall float
As fast as winds can flee:

Then will we to the chalky cliffs
And climb them if we may,
To see how many snow white skiffs,
Go bounding through the bay.

To mark the broad sea-bosom swell
Scarce higher than thy breast,
And hear the deep-toned Triton shell
Hum the sweet waves to rest;

Adown the valleys deep to range,
Soft-footed as the Morn,
And hear them ring the echoing change
Of some far distant horn:

Or stand like two white angel things
Upon the mountain high,
Our rapt thoughts lifting us like wings,
Near light enough to fly!

We'll trace the stream-king to his cave
Within his grottoed halls,
To see how fast his wealth of wave
From shelve to shallow falls.

Behind her lair, with linked arms,
Mute-smiling, we will learn
By what sweet song the Naiad charms
The water from her urn.

We'll drink the fresh balm of the fields
Through moistening lips and eyes,
The dewy tears fond Nature yields
When day is born or dies.

And we will see the Sun go down
Behind the purple hills,
While gem by gem her paly crown
The Star of Beauty fills.

When larks spring up to meet the light,
When thrush and cuckoo chime,
When flocks can sleep afield by night,
Then will be straying time!

But now that frost looks diamond-jet,
And sleety north winds blow,
I will not trust my Violet
To peep from out the snow.

She shall not feel the winter pierce
With icy shafts her blood,
Nor hear his breath so shrill and fierce
Glaze up the crackling flood,

But through her window, curtained warm,
May watch him without fear
Enwreathed in shrouds his airy form
And whirl his wild career;

Or smile to see the crystal pane
Break off his feathery dart,
That seemed to come with might and main
Right inward to her heart!

The hail may patter on the roof,
The heavy rains may pour,
But Love has made it tempest-proof
For her whom I adore!

Her cheeks shall glow, her lips shall bloom,
As if the amorous South
Had come for dalliance to her room,
And sweetness to her mouth.

Or should the rueful night-wind shriek
Her heart a moment chill,
I'll press to mine both lip and cheek
To keep them crimson still.

I'll fold her warmly to my breast,
And then, do what ye dare!
Blow, all ye winds, your bitter best,
Ye shall not reach her there!

As cheerful as a summer-bower
Her cottage trim shall smile;
We'll cheat with tales the lingering hour,
With books as glad beguile:

Till woodbine walks and cowslip ways
Shall tempt us forth: and then
Heart-full of pleasure and of praise,
We'll range the fields again!