Classic Poem

On margin of a gadding brook
In yonder Mead, all sport and play,
Hope weaving round him fairy dreams
A sweet Boy roams midst brightest day.

A Butterfly, on gorgeous wings,
Floats through the air with mazy pride,
Emblem of Youth in Pleasure's paths
Glides fearless on the eddying tide!

The tide bears on with headlong force,
Its Fate it sees, but, sees too late!
The ambush'd Boy its course arrests,
It darts on sparkling wings to Fate!

You little know how blest it lives,
Youth! let him not expire so soon!
Just past the Morning of its time,
Oh, let it taste the joyous Noon.

When Dawn first shows its cheering eye,
And blushing on the Mountain springs,
In undulations through the air
O'er scented fields it sports its wings.

The dew which on the Strawberry hangs
Its Morn's pure beverage it makes,
And in the Violet's perfumed cup
Its evening thirst, delighted, slakes.

If Clouds rush through the misty air
It creeps into the Rose's breast,
Or, whilst the pattering rain descends,
In Tulips' pendent bells seeks rest.

Though rich Jonquils, whose radiant brows
On all their Sister-flowers look down,
Have shared the gold which o'er its form
Is sweetly blended it with brown,

Though Pinks, on whose high finish'd leaves
Tints into sweeter tints dissolve,
Partake the shades that spot its wings
And with its beamy rings revolve,

Th' Auricula, whose jewel'd dust
Owns every hue that Iris lends,
The precious powder with it shares
Whose softness all its colours blends,

Still Flowers its hues with Envy see,
And blame their Sylphs' too little art,
Who to their robes have fail'd to give
Such rays as forth its flutterings start.

Ah! playful Youth, with Mercy view
A creature reft of joy like this.
See! Pity beams within his eye,
He feels how Mercy teems with Bliss!

Sweet Youth! he gives it to the air,
From which he heedless brought it down,
For this, may all he e'er may ask
His brightest wishes richly crown.

He gives it still to float around,
Its path delightfully to wind,
On gentle gales that gad midst Flowers
And all their stores of sweets unbind.

See! how it flits the Sun's bright rays,
On buoyant wings that seek no rest,
And how it plays in scented air,
Enjoying Life with added Zest!