Poems (Larcom)/Entangled

by Lucy Larcom

For works with similar titles, see Entangled.

FROM WITHOUT.

ENTANGLED.

BIRDS among the budding trees,
 Blossoms on the ringing ground:
Light from those? or song from these?
 Can the tangle be unwound?

For the bluebird's warbled note,
 Violet-odors hither flung;
And the violet curved her throat,
 Just as if she sat and sung.

Dandelions dressed in gold,
 Give out echoes clear and loud,
To the oriole's story, told
 With gay poise and gesture proud.

And the swaying yellow-bird,
 Trilling, thrills their hollow stems,
Until every root is stirred,
 Under their dropped diadems.

Swallows thicken through the air,—
 Curve and drift of plumy brown,—
Wafting, showering everywhere,
 Melody's light seed-notes down.

Beauty, music on the earth;
 Music, beauty in the sky;
Guess the mystery of their birth!
 All the haunting what and why.

Nature weaves a marvellous braid;
 Tints and tones how deftly blent.
Who unwinds the web she made?
 Thou, who wearest her wise content.

Wrapped within her beauty's fold,
 Of her song thyself a part,
Plainly are her secrets told
 Unto thee, O pure of heart!