Poems (Wordsworth, 1815)/Volume 1/To a Butterfly (1)

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For works with similar titles, see To a Butterfly.
75649Poems Volume I — To a Butterfly1815William Wordsworth

II.

TO A BUTTERFLY.



Stay near me—do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in Thee,
Historian of my Infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay Creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My Father's Family!


Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when in our childish plays,
My Sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the Butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:—with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But She, God love her! feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.