Poems (Barker)/Woodland Fancies
Woodland Fancies.
I wandered off' 'mong the fields to-day And the trees so golden brown,To watch the fluttering, flying leaves And the walnuts tumbling down.I wanted to dream awhile, sweet friend, And to wave a garland bright,From the fancy flowers that fill my heart, To place on your brow to-night.
For twenty summers have quickly flown, In peace o'er your happy head;No longer a careless, merry girl, But a woman, "Sweet May," instead,O! it seems so strange that as children now Together we ne're shall roam:That another hath called my sunny friend Away from her childhood's home.
O! it seems so strange that the happy past. Has vanished for e'er and aye:That my little mate has in truth become A woman in one short day!They will miss you in the household now, At the sunny hour of noon:There'll be something beautiful gone from life, Like the roses out of June.
And at morn and even with saddened hearts They'll offer an earnest prayer,But one bright link in the chain of love Will never again be there.As I look at the years which our careless feet Together have roamed awayWhen we lovingly bent o'er the self-same book, Or bounded away in play.
I can scarce believe that these golden leaves And the beautiful woods so bright,Are heralding in your twentieth year, And, dear friend, your wedding night!But the gentle angels will surely bend, In blessing above your head;They come so near to this earth of ours, That we almost hear their tread.
And ever while toiling up life's steep hill, Through its sunshine or its rain,May the heart you have chosen be firm and strong To bear all its grief and pain!And in helping each other go on dear friends To the river so still and dread,Unheeding the sneers of a pity less world, Be ever by charity led.
And while you are bearing each burden and cross, 0! keep your heart pure and as sweetAs when we wandered so far away, With the dust on our tired feet:And sinking down 'mong the golden leaves, To rest from our busy play,We watched the silent shadows come, While the sunshine died away.
O! keep the heart of a trusting child, And together go, hand in hand!Remember that half the clouds we meet We beckon from shadow land.And Heaven's blessing go with you both To the close of this earthly life!May its richest blessing crown the hour That made you "man and wife!"
And tell me, how could I help but dream From the fancies that seem so bright,And wave a garland of flowers to place On the brow of my friend to-night?So I wandered off 'mong the fields to-day, And the woods so golden brown;To watch the fluttering, flying leaves, And the walnuts tumbling down.