A VISION OF POETS.
191
I traced his footsteps! From the east
A reel and tender radiance pressed
Through the near trees, until I guessed
A reel and tender radiance pressed
Through the near trees, until I guessed
The sun behind shone full and round;
While up the leafiness profound
A wind scarce old enough for sound
While up the leafiness profound
A wind scarce old enough for sound
Stood ready to blow on me when
I turned that way; and now and then
The birds sang and brake off again
I turned that way; and now and then
The birds sang and brake off again
To shake their pretty feathers dry
Of dew which slideth droppingly
From the leaf-edges, and apply
Of dew which slideth droppingly
From the leaf-edges, and apply
Back to their song. 'Twixt dew and bird
So sweet a silence ministered,
God seemed to use it for a word.
So sweet a silence ministered,
God seemed to use it for a word.
Yet morning souls did leap and run
In all things, as the least had won
A joyous insight of the sun.
In all things, as the least had won
A joyous insight of the sun.
And no one looking round the wood
Could help confessing, as he stood,
This Poet-God is glad and good!
Could help confessing, as he stood,
This Poet-God is glad and good!
But hark! a distant sound that grows!
A heaving, sinking of the boughs—
A rustling murmur, not of those!
A heaving, sinking of the boughs—
A rustling murmur, not of those!
A breezy noise, which is not breeze!
And white-clad children by degrees
Steal out in troops among the trees;
And white-clad children by degrees
Steal out in troops among the trees;
Fair little children, morning-bright,
With faces grave, yet soft to sight,—
Expressive of restrained delight.
With faces grave, yet soft to sight,—
Expressive of restrained delight.
Some plucked the palm-boughs within reach,
And others leapt up high to catch
The upper boughs, and shake from each
And others leapt up high to catch
The upper boughs, and shake from each
