Стихи

Once in the wind of morning
I ranged the thymy wold;
The world-wide air was azure
And all the brooks ran gold.

There through the dews beside me

Behold a youth that trod,
With feathered cap on forehead,
And poised a golden rod.

With mien to match the morning

And gay delightful guise
And friendly brows and laughter
He looked me in the eyes.

Oh whence, I asked, and whither?

He smiled and would not say.
And looked at me and beckoned,
And laughed and led the way.

And with kind looks and laughter

And nought to say beside,
We two went on together,
I and my happy guide.

Across the glittering pastures

And empty upland still
And solitude of shepherds
High in the folded hill,

By hanging woods and hamlets

That gaze through orchards down
On many a windmill turning
And far-discovered town,

With gay regards of promise

And sure unslackened stride
And smiles and nothing spoken
Led on my merry guide.

By blowing realms of woodland

With sunstruck vanes afield
And cloud-led shadows sailing
About the windy weald,

By valley-guarded granges

And silver waters wide,
Content at heart I followed
With my delightful guide.

And like the cloudy shadows

Across the country blown
We two fare on for ever,
But not we two alone.

With the great gale we journey

That breathes from gardens thinned,
Borne in the drift of blossoms
Whose petals throng the wind;

Buoyed on the heaven-ward whisper

Of dancing leaflets whirled
From all the woods that autumn
Bereaves in all the world.

And midst the fluttering legion

Of all that ever died
I follow, and before us
Goes the delightful guide,

With lips that brim with laughter

But never once respond,
And feet that fly on feathers,
And serpent-circled wand.

– 42- ВЕСЕЛЫЙ ГИД