  Along the lane I idly pass Unheeding where the footpath goes, And loiter through the ripe wild-grass That down the open roadway grows In feathery, tall tufts that rise In filmy tangles, misty-wise; The grass that when the south wind blows, Shines out and shows Shot through with silver lights and rose, And tiny gold and violet seeds That quiver off each gleaming stem And powder all the wayside weeds, And like a glory cover them. With eager palms I gently press Soft sheaves of it against my lips In sheer delight; and so caress And fondle with light finger-tips, And watch its beauty when the bright, Clear spears of light Pierce through its slender leaves and smite Their rose and purple, till my sight Is dazzled with its loveliness! The tendrils of a wild-grape vine Through elder thickets intertwine; And poising lightly on a spray Of fruited bramble stems where shine Close clustering berries, red as wine, A little thistle-bird, still gay In April’s yellow plumage, clings With airy grace, and slowly swings, And lifts his wings In dainty, drowsy flutterings; They flicker like bright flakes of gold, And fan his body, small and slim, While lovingly the winds enfold And summer’s heart broods over him. The sky is softer than the blue Of cornflower buds beneath the dew; And down below Upon the marshy meadow swales The bindweed weaves its rosy veils Where thick the blowing rushes grow Among the tasseled reeds and rue; And up between the mossy rails It lightly climbs, and clambers through The growing corn, and barley, too, And winds the fallow weeds and trails Along the creek where cowslips grew. O lavish stems, that fondly fling Close clasp about the earth, and cling Ev’n as ye do To that dear soil wherefrom ye spring, So does my love cleave thereunto! And so my full heart-blossoms bind The bright midsummer fields, and find Sweet fellowships with everything!
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