Hylas

Dark boy, how radiantly you went to meet Your mystic doom . . . what colours in the sky! As though that cup of beauty the gods hold Brimmed over on a world in ecstasy . . . What silver flutes charmed all the forest ways . . . How the green shimmered, jewelled thick with flowers, And how the sun was like a globe of gold . . . Yet you but thought to chase the perfect hours Down that white road of wonder and delight, The highway of your dreams, and heedlessly You crushed the violets with your slim brown feet, And whistled low, and sang a careless song . . . Because your life was full of lovely days, Because your life was delicate and sweet . . . O youth and dawn . . . you dreamed not of the night . . . O life and laughter . . . but the night is long . . .

 

 

 

 

Blue Flowers

I go to gather in the woods for you The wild flowers that are blue . . . Petals to match the colour of your eyes!

None but blue blossoms will I take, yet see How sweetly tempting me The fruit trees swing their scented treasuries.

And how the buttercups and daisies dance To meet my dazzled glance! But gold and silver, Sweet, are naught to you.

And so let others rob God's gardens . . . shake The stars down for your sake— I bring you but the wild flowers that are blue!

 

 

 

 

Madrigal

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