THE PADDOCK
(Lisp, lap!
Flutter and flap!)
I laugh’d, then away I whirl’d.
Far, far, far away,
O call’d-for Water, that must not stay!
The tide lolls in a golden bay,
Languid the fever’d land,
Stirless the palm-trees stand
’Twixt torrid sky and sand.
The Sky glares, the Sea flares,
The Sun’s bared eye-ball stands and stares
Upon the staring sand.
—Clean as the salt, keen as the light,
Cool as the ocean, with all my might,
With a jubilant gush, with a ripple and rush,
I blew and I flew, over and through
Green jalousies, walls of white;
And over the bitter and barren Blue,
Merciful Blackness drew!
....Thunder crashing, rain-drops clashing,
Spray on plashing foliage slashing,
Riot, roaring, rage and lashing....
Smell of the Earth,
Blossoms’ birth
(Over the creek, over the grass,
Speed, Shadow, and quickly pass!)
I blew and brought them, lightly I blew
And left them! and off I flew!
For, high, low, buffet and blow,
Wherever I will, wherever I will,
Over the world I wander and go.
176
