Caroling Dusk/When the Green Lies Over the Earth
WHEN THE GREEN LIES OVER THE EARTH
When the green lies over the earth, my dear,A mantle of witching grace,When the smile and the tear of the young child yearDimple across its face,And then flee, when the wind all day is sweetWith the breath of growing things,When the wooing bird lights on restless feetAnd chirrups and trills and sings To his lady-love In the green above,Then oh! my dear, when the youth’s in the year,
Yours is the face that I long to have near, Yours is the face, my dear.
But the green is hiding your curls, my dear,Your curls so shining and sweet;And the gold-hearted daisies this many a yearHave bloomed and bloomed at your feet,And the little birds just above your headWith their voices hushed, my dear,For you have sung and have prayed and have pled This many, many a year.
And the blossoms fall, On the garden wall,And drift like snow on the green below. But the sharp thorn grows On the budding rose,And my heart no more leaps at the sunset glow.For oh! my dear, when the youth’s in the year,Yours is the face that I long to have near,Yours is the face, my dear.