230
DAY-LILIES.
The wildest birdling dare not sing,
Nor insect beat a gossamer wing,
Nor zephyr lift the lightest thing,
Here, where the lustrous lilies,
The clear, resplendent lilies,
Pour out their heavenly-sweet perfume,
And with their snowiness,
In clusters chaste, illume
This dusk recess.
Nor insect beat a gossamer wing,
Nor zephyr lift the lightest thing,
Here, where the lustrous lilies,
The clear, resplendent lilies,
Pour out their heavenly-sweet perfume,
And with their snowiness,
In clusters chaste, illume
This dusk recess.
Soft-looted Silence, royal nun!
In this thy humid, emerald cell
Forever dwell!
These flowers supernal ever shine,
Pure-flamed, before thy virgin shrine!
Here, one by one,
Tell o'er thy glistering, total beads,—
A rosary strung on tangled weeds
And blades and stems that intertwist.
The breath of lilies be thy prayers,
Sweet-odored, wafted unawares
Up through the morning's lucent airs
And evening's pallid mist!
The glittering stars shall o'er thee pass,
Deep-pillowed in the heavy grass;
These broad, smooth lily-leaves shall be
A glossy coverlet for thee,
Thy prayers and penance done,
O royal nun!
In this thy humid, emerald cell
Forever dwell!
These flowers supernal ever shine,
Pure-flamed, before thy virgin shrine!
Here, one by one,
Tell o'er thy glistering, total beads,—
A rosary strung on tangled weeds
And blades and stems that intertwist.
The breath of lilies be thy prayers,
Sweet-odored, wafted unawares
Up through the morning's lucent airs
And evening's pallid mist!
The glittering stars shall o'er thee pass,
Deep-pillowed in the heavy grass;
These broad, smooth lily-leaves shall be
A glossy coverlet for thee,
Thy prayers and penance done,
O royal nun!
