Poems (Tynan)/Chestnut in April
CHESTNUT IN APRIL
The chestnut is a candlestick
Of arching clusters, rosy and thick,
And branches branching wide and high
Toward the smiling sky.
Of arching clusters, rosy and thick,
And branches branching wide and high
Toward the smiling sky.
Closed are the sweet-lip buds that hide
A flame of mother-o'-pearl inside.
Open, open, O rosy mouth!
The wind is from the south.
A flame of mother-o'-pearl inside.
Open, open, O rosy mouth!
The wind is from the south.
O wind, from Spring's own country blow,
Till all the candles lit arow,
And all the candles lit a-ring,
Make Christmas-trees for Spring.
Till all the candles lit arow,
And all the candles lit a-ring,
Make Christmas-trees for Spring.
The little candle-cups are made
Of silver, rosy pearl, and jade.
Each cup shall hold its light aloft,
Moon-pale in wood and croft.
Of silver, rosy pearl, and jade.
Each cup shall hold its light aloft,
Moon-pale in wood and croft.
Not finer in the sky above
The heavenly candlestick, whereof
The candles are the stars that keep
Light while the sun 's a sleep.
The heavenly candlestick, whereof
The candles are the stars that keep
Light while the sun 's a sleep.
O chestnut, light your million lamps
In fairy camps, in dew and damps,
And draws the moths at eve to play
Around their glimmering ray.
In fairy camps, in dew and damps,
And draws the moths at eve to play
Around their glimmering ray.
O chestnut, light your lamps all pale,
The nights are for the nightingale.
Amid your lamps Love's bower is made:
Love's litanies are prayed.
The nights are for the nightingale.
Amid your lamps Love's bower is made:
Love's litanies are prayed.
Too soon, too soon on hill and lawn,
Like him who quenches lamps at dawn
Shall one blow out your lights and leave
The woods to dusky eve.
Like him who quenches lamps at dawn
Shall one blow out your lights and leave
The woods to dusky eve.