Page:The Secret Key and Other Verses - Evans.djvu/44

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22
ON THE PLAINS
Slip girth and let the old horse graze;
The noon grows heavy on the air.
Kindle the tiny camp fire's blaze,
And 'neath the shade, as monarch there,
    Take thou thine ease:;
    For hours like these
A king had bartered satrapies!

Here lie and watch, thro' smoke-wreaths cool,
By yon sunk log and floating wrack,
The emperor of the silent pool,
The stately heron, white and black,
    Afar from heat,
    Upon his beat,
Knee-deep in shallowy retreat.

O mellow air! O sunny light!
O Hope and Youth that pass away!
Inscribe in letters of delight
Upon each heart one golden day–
    To be there set
    When we forget
There is a joy in living yet!