Travelling Standing Still/Boys and Girls
BOYS AND GIRLS
The Sun ChildBoys and girls, come out to play:The sun is up, the wind's astray,Early morning's gold is gone—(They slumber on, they slumber on.)I have never done with youHalf the things I want to do.I will put kisses on your knees,And we will squander as we pleaseThis lovely, little lazy day!
Ninety million miles awayThe sun halloos: "Come out to play;The winds are prancing on tip-toe,Impatient with long waiting so;The hills look up. Come out and oh,Let your bodies dart and runWhile I make shadows," says the sun.
Boys and girls, come out to playBefore the river runs away,I have never done with youHalf the things I want to do. . . .
The SunBoys and girls, come out to playBefore the river runs away,While you are fluid, unafraid,Beneath my light and shadow skim,Before this folded gloom is dimAnd limb no longer follows limbDancing under spotted shade.
For dancing were your bodies made:Before the roses of you fade,Find your meaning for the mouthWhile I lean south; while I go west,Find your meaning for the rest.
The Sun ChildThrow back your head and fly with me—Love me, chase me, lie with me;Follow, sweetheart of the sun,Turn and follow where I runBetween blue vineyards and fruit-trees—Fall down and kiss me on the knees!Pant beside me while I pickBerries for you from the thickBlue-jeweled branches. Crush them red,Not on your mouth—on mine instead!
The SunNimble you move—you are my own,My pliant essence. All alone,On fire in the passive skyI burn—a stone, a golden stone;Together, you in double shadeDiscover why your limbs were made.
The Sun ChildI have never done with youHalf the things I want to do.Link your arms and loosen them,Pluck and suck a grass's stem.Touch my breasts with that blue aster,Kiss me fast—I'll kiss you faster!Link your arms and loosen them.
Now link your arms like mine together,Toward me lightly, like a feather,Dance. Like feathers you'll be blownAcross the level field alone,And like a brown wing my bare feetWill skim the meadow till we meet.
The river skips, but we are quicker;Its little body's slender glisten Goes down alley-ways of leaves.Flicker, sun, and river, flicker;Listen, lover, listen, listenHow the river laughs and grieves. . . .
I have never done with youHalf the things I want to do.Leap for me, sweetheart, reach and tryTo catch me, sweetheart; kiss and cryAfter me, sweetheart, darting by.
After you seize me, we will lie,I in the grass, you in the sky;After you kiss me, we will startTo try and reach each other's heart,And searching frantically findThe unseen blisses of the blind.
The Sun ChildrenBefore the river runs away,Boys and girls, come out to play.(They slumber on, they slumber on,Morning's glint is almost gone.)With yellow bubbles fill your veinsBefore the lusty day-star wanes.(They slumber on, they slumber on, Silken leopard noon is gone.)Die you may, die you must—Fill your mouths with pollen dust;Calyxes and honey-thighsBoth will wither. Beauty dies.Find out why mouths are berry-redBefore you stiffen in your drab bed.Over you humming summer will glide,You'll never lie languid on your side,And listen then as you listen nowTo half-heard melodies; oh, howThe river runs and runs and runsFluid with splendor, and the sun'sCircuit is singing. Fragile day!Boys and girls, come out to play!