Page:Poems Howard.djvu/46

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40
POEMS.
Care had vanished with the day,
And, as by the fire-light rays,
Fancy in a dreamy way
Pictured scenes of other days;
Skillfully her fingers drew,
Silently, defined, and clear,
One bright panoramic view
Of the past forever dear.

Oh, the night was wild without,
And the skies were grim and cold;
Drifted snow-banks piled about
Acres hid of frozen mold;
But within, as though 't were Spring,
Piping out their chansonnettes
I could hear the robins sing,
I could smell the violets.

So I dreamed—and woke to find,
Roused from this delightful nap,
From an unknown donor kind
Something lying in my lap;
Such a pretty birthday card!
As if wafted from above,
With a couplet from that bard
Who divinely sang of love.