A Boat beneath a Sunny Sky

A boat beneath a sunny sky,

Lingering onward dreamily

In an evening of July --

Children three that nestle near,

Eager eye and willing ear,

Pleased a simple tale to hear --

Long has paled that sunny sky:

Echoes fade and memories die:

Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,

Alice moving under skies

Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,

Eager eye and willing ear,

Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,

Dreaming as the days go by,

Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream --

Lingering in the golden dream --

Life, what is it but a dream?

Autumn Leaves

In the hush and the lonely silence

Of the chill October night,

Some wizard has worked his magic

With fairy fingers light.

The leaves of the sturdy oak trees

Are splendid with crimson and red.

And the golden flags of the maple

Are fluttering overhead.

Through the tangle of faded grasses

There are trailing vines ablaze,

And the glory of warmth and color

Gleams through the autumn haze.

Like banners of marching armies

That farther and farther go;

Down the winding roads and valleys

The boughs of the sumacs glow.

So open your eyes, little children,

And open your hearts as well,

Till the charm of the bright October

Shall fold you in its spell.

Be A Friend

Be a friend. You don't need money;

Just a disposition sunny;

Just the wish to help another

Get along some way or other;

Just a kindly hand extended

Out to one who's unbefriended;

Just the will to give or lend,

This will make you someone's friend.

Be a friend. You don't need glory.

Friendship is a simple story.

Pass by trifling errors blindly,

Gaze on honest effort kindly,

Cheer the youth who's bravely trying,

Pity him who's sadly sighing;

Just a little labor spend

On the duties of a friend.

Be a friend. The pay is bigger

(Though not written by a figure)

Than is earned by people clever

In what's merely self-endeavor.

You'll have friends instead of neighbors

For the profits of your labors;

You'll be richer in the end

Than a prince, if you're a friend.

Snow-Flakes

See the early snow-flakes!

Softly they descend,

Like an orchard blossom

Scattered by the wind.

Here and there they’re flying

Over all the trees,

High above them swarming

Like white-winged bees.

Faster still they’re whirling,

Dancing into sight,

Like a troop of fairies

When the moon is light.

Tripping down the highway

In a reckless gait,

Falling like a feather

Without sound or weight.

On the distant churchyard

Over graves unkept,

Where the leaves have drifted

And the clouds have wept.

Little band of angels

Doing only good,

Making white the meadow

And the lonely wood.

Greeting with light kisses

All they chance to meet,

Leaving shining footprints

All about the street.

Little winter children

Full of life and fun -

Oh! I love the snow-flakes,

Love them every one.

Why I Smile

I smile because the world is fair;

Because the sky is blue.

Because I find, no matter where

I go, a friend that’s true.

I smile because the earth is green,

The sun so near and bright,

Because the days that o’er us lean

Are full of warmth and light.

I smile as past the yards I go,

Though strange and new the place,

The violets seem my step to know,

And look up in my face.

I smile to hear the robin’s note.

He comes so newly dressed,

A love song throbbing in his throat,

A rose pinned on his breast.

And so the truth I’ll not disown,

Because the spring is nigh;

My heart has somewhat better grown,

And I forget to sigh.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 843