MARSH-LANDS

MARSH-LANDS

Sure in this spongy and luxuriant retreat—This lovely lyric little marshWhich nothing hath of fierce or harsh,Unhappy fancies to evoke,Where all life is most delicately attuned to sweetMelodious living, here we’ll meetNaiads dainty and discreetWith other watery folkAnd watch the twinkle of their iridescent feet.Upon a reed’s high silver pointWhich early dews anoint,The Red-wing lights and poises, swaying,With throaty and delicious whistle playingPan-music in the mellow morning light.It is like running water’s flowA bit unearthly, and celestial quite—A golden tremolo;And satin robes of air half veil him from our sight.The gay marsh-marigoldDelights its small sun to unfold;And many a bulbous goblin thing,Ugly and grave,Into the dull mud burrowingDraws from some secret treasure-caveAnd to the sunlight heavesGreen breadth—great leavesTo build a vessel floating on an inland wave.We’ll be as busy as the clouds, with naught to do,And we will wonder at the curious striping,In saffron glimpses, of more distant poolsWhich the wind coolsWith deep reflected blue.And we will listen now to Hyla’s piping—A thin small spriteThat one may never seeCalling to the sky his clear delightFilled with insatiate and unbounded ecstasy.

Sure in this spongy and luxuriant retreat—This lovely lyric little marshWhich nothing hath of fierce or harsh,Unhappy fancies to evoke,Where all life is most delicately attuned to sweetMelodious living, here we’ll meetNaiads dainty and discreetWith other watery folkAnd watch the twinkle of their iridescent feet.Upon a reed’s high silver pointWhich early dews anoint,The Red-wing lights and poises, swaying,With throaty and delicious whistle playingPan-music in the mellow morning light.It is like running water’s flowA bit unearthly, and celestial quite—A golden tremolo;And satin robes of air half veil him from our sight.The gay marsh-marigoldDelights its small sun to unfold;And many a bulbous goblin thing,Ugly and grave,Into the dull mud burrowingDraws from some secret treasure-caveAnd to the sunlight heavesGreen breadth—great leavesTo build a vessel floating on an inland wave.We’ll be as busy as the clouds, with naught to do,And we will wonder at the curious striping,In saffron glimpses, of more distant poolsWhich the wind coolsWith deep reflected blue.And we will listen now to Hyla’s piping—A thin small spriteThat one may never seeCalling to the sky his clear delightFilled with insatiate and unbounded ecstasy.

Sure in this spongy and luxuriant retreat—This lovely lyric little marshWhich nothing hath of fierce or harsh,Unhappy fancies to evoke,Where all life is most delicately attuned to sweetMelodious living, here we’ll meetNaiads dainty and discreetWith other watery folkAnd watch the twinkle of their iridescent feet.

Sure in this spongy and luxuriant retreat—

This lovely lyric little marsh

Which nothing hath of fierce or harsh,

Unhappy fancies to evoke,

Where all life is most delicately attuned to sweet

Melodious living, here we’ll meet

Naiads dainty and discreet

With other watery folk

And watch the twinkle of their iridescent feet.

Upon a reed’s high silver pointWhich early dews anoint,The Red-wing lights and poises, swaying,With throaty and delicious whistle playingPan-music in the mellow morning light.It is like running water’s flowA bit unearthly, and celestial quite—A golden tremolo;And satin robes of air half veil him from our sight.

Upon a reed’s high silver point

Which early dews anoint,

The Red-wing lights and poises, swaying,

With throaty and delicious whistle playing

Pan-music in the mellow morning light.

It is like running water’s flow

A bit unearthly, and celestial quite—

A golden tremolo;

And satin robes of air half veil him from our sight.

The gay marsh-marigoldDelights its small sun to unfold;And many a bulbous goblin thing,Ugly and grave,Into the dull mud burrowingDraws from some secret treasure-caveAnd to the sunlight heavesGreen breadth—great leavesTo build a vessel floating on an inland wave.

The gay marsh-marigold

Delights its small sun to unfold;

And many a bulbous goblin thing,

Ugly and grave,

Into the dull mud burrowing

Draws from some secret treasure-cave

And to the sunlight heaves

Green breadth—great leaves

To build a vessel floating on an inland wave.

We’ll be as busy as the clouds, with naught to do,And we will wonder at the curious striping,In saffron glimpses, of more distant poolsWhich the wind coolsWith deep reflected blue.And we will listen now to Hyla’s piping—A thin small spriteThat one may never seeCalling to the sky his clear delightFilled with insatiate and unbounded ecstasy.

We’ll be as busy as the clouds, with naught to do,

And we will wonder at the curious striping,

In saffron glimpses, of more distant pools

Which the wind cools

With deep reflected blue.

And we will listen now to Hyla’s piping—

A thin small sprite

That one may never see

Calling to the sky his clear delight

Filled with insatiate and unbounded ecstasy.


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