Fire-flies
To-night I watch the fire-flies rise
And shine along the air;
They float beneath the starry skies,
As mystical and fair,
Above the hedge where dimly glows
The deep gold of the Persian rose.
I watch the fire-flies drift and float:
Each is a dreamy flame.
Star-coloured each, a starry mote.
Like stars not all the same;
But whiter some, or faintly green.
Or wannest blue was ever seen.
They cross and cross and disappear.
And then again they glow;
Still drifting faintly there and here.
Still crossing to and fro.
As though in all their wandering
They wove a wide and shining thing.
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