PUCK.

PUCK.

OH, it was Puck! I saw him yesternightSwung up betwixt a phlox-top and the rimOf a low crescent moon that cradled him,Whirring his rakish wings with all his might,And pursing his wee mouth, that dimpled whiteAnd red, as though some dagger keen and slimHad stung him there, while ever faint and dimHis eerie warblings piped his high delight;Till I, grown jubilant, shrill answer made,At which, all suddenly, he dropped from view;And peering after, ’neath the everglade,What was it, do you think, I saw him do?I saw him peeling dewdrops with a bladeOf starshine sharpened on his bat-wing shoe.James Whitcomb Riley.

OH, it was Puck! I saw him yesternightSwung up betwixt a phlox-top and the rimOf a low crescent moon that cradled him,Whirring his rakish wings with all his might,And pursing his wee mouth, that dimpled whiteAnd red, as though some dagger keen and slimHad stung him there, while ever faint and dimHis eerie warblings piped his high delight;Till I, grown jubilant, shrill answer made,At which, all suddenly, he dropped from view;And peering after, ’neath the everglade,What was it, do you think, I saw him do?I saw him peeling dewdrops with a bladeOf starshine sharpened on his bat-wing shoe.James Whitcomb Riley.

OH, it was Puck! I saw him yesternightSwung up betwixt a phlox-top and the rimOf a low crescent moon that cradled him,Whirring his rakish wings with all his might,And pursing his wee mouth, that dimpled whiteAnd red, as though some dagger keen and slimHad stung him there, while ever faint and dimHis eerie warblings piped his high delight;Till I, grown jubilant, shrill answer made,At which, all suddenly, he dropped from view;And peering after, ’neath the everglade,What was it, do you think, I saw him do?I saw him peeling dewdrops with a bladeOf starshine sharpened on his bat-wing shoe.

OH, it was Puck! I saw him yesternight

Swung up betwixt a phlox-top and the rim

Of a low crescent moon that cradled him,

Whirring his rakish wings with all his might,

And pursing his wee mouth, that dimpled white

And red, as though some dagger keen and slim

Had stung him there, while ever faint and dim

His eerie warblings piped his high delight;

Till I, grown jubilant, shrill answer made,

At which, all suddenly, he dropped from view;

And peering after, ’neath the everglade,

What was it, do you think, I saw him do?

I saw him peeling dewdrops with a blade

Of starshine sharpened on his bat-wing shoe.

James Whitcomb Riley.

James Whitcomb Riley.


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