Wild thickets, dense with briers and weeds, are glad with sounds of pleasure,
On grassy slopes the shy fawn feeds and gambols at his leisure;
But one sad seeress from her hill
Casts over all an icy chill,
Sways the rapt listener at her will, and floods his soul with sadness.
On grassy slopes the shy fawn feeds and gambols at his leisure;
But one sad seeress from her hill
Casts over all an icy chill,
Sways the rapt listener at her will, and floods his soul with sadness.
How canst thou come, thou mournful one, each breeze with sorrow loading?
Why chant beneath a smiling sun one note of dark foreboding?
When light is dancing in the dells,
When music through the forest swells,
And fairies ring their dewy bells, why chant that all are dying?
Why chant beneath a smiling sun one note of dark foreboding?
When light is dancing in the dells,
When music through the forest swells,
And fairies ring their dewy bells, why chant that all are dying?
Tall mariposa tulips smile, among the reeds and rushes
Wild tiger-lilies droop the while to hide their conscious blushes;
But still from meadows far away
Resounds that plaintive, mournful lay,
Rebuking all the thoughtless play of Nature's artless children.
Wild tiger-lilies droop the while to hide their conscious blushes;
But still from meadows far away
Resounds that plaintive, mournful lay,
Rebuking all the thoughtless play of Nature's artless children.
Come in the Autumn, dauntless seer, when withered leaves are falling,
Then is the time o'er Nature's bier to mind thy mournful calling;
But not in Spring's supernal bloom
Should Nature whisper of the tomb,
Or prophets come with thoughts of gloom to blight her youth and beauty.
Then is the time o'er Nature's bier to mind thy mournful calling;
But not in Spring's supernal bloom
Should Nature whisper of the tomb,
Or prophets come with thoughts of gloom to blight her youth and beauty.
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