Destroyers and Other Verses/Sur la Rive Gauche
Sur la Rive Gauche.
My heart is full of music,
For the world is a-dance to-day,
And my feet go tripping, tripping
To the melody of May.
For the world is a-dance to-day,
And my feet go tripping, tripping
To the melody of May.
The hum of a stirring city
Comes pulsing up and down,
Wind borne across the river
The cadence of the town.
Comes pulsing up and down,
Wind borne across the river
The cadence of the town.
And sturdy plane-trees glimmer
Grey through the eddying dust—
Their leaves like paper windmills
Whirl in each tiny gust.
Grey through the eddying dust—
Their leaves like paper windmills
Whirl in each tiny gust.
Bright ripples in the sunshine
Go waltzing down the stream,
And gaily set to corners
At every balk and beam.
Go waltzing down the stream,
And gaily set to corners
At every balk and beam.
I wonder waiting, waiting,
Will my lover's heart be gay,
Attuned to the generous piping
And melody of May.
Will my lover's heart be gay,
Attuned to the generous piping
And melody of May.
Paris, Spring, 1849.