Sweet chestnuts brown like soling leather turn; The larch trees, like the colour of the Sun; That paled sky in the Autumn seemed to burn, What a strange scene before us now does run--...
When shall I see the white-thorn leaves agen, And yellowhammers gathering the dry bents By the dyke side, on stilly moor or fen, Feathered with love and nature's good intents?...
When in summer thou walkest In the meads by the river, And to thyself talkest, Dost thou think of one ever-- A lost and a lorn one That adores thee and loves thee? And when happy morn's gone,...
'T is Spring, my love, 'tis Spring, And the birds begin to sing: If 'twas Winter, left alone with you, Your bonny form and face Would make a Summer place, And be the finest flower that ever grew. ...
Thou lovely bud, with many weeds surrounded, I once again address thee with a song; To cheer thee up 'gainst Envy's adder-tongue That deeply oft thy reputation wounded,...
Three times, sweet hawthorn! I have met thy bower, And thou hast gain'd my love, and I do feel An aching pain to leave thee: every flower Around thee opening doth new charms reveal,...
Sweet brook! I've met thee many a summer's day, And ventured fearless in thy shallow flood, And rambled oft thy sweet unwearied way, 'Neath willows cool that on thy margin stood,...
Sweet Mary, though nor sighs nor pains Impassion'd courtship prove, My simple song the truth ne'er feigns To win thee to my love: I ask thee from thy bustling life, Where nought can pleasing prove,...
Old tree thou art wither'd--I pass'd thee last year, And the blackbird snug hid in thy branches did sing, Thy shadow stretch'd dark o'er the grass sprouting near,...
Malicious insect, little vengeful bee, With venom-sting thou'rt whirling round and round A harmless head that ne'er meant wrong to thee, And friendship's hand it is thou'dst wish to wound:...
Thrice welcome here again, thou flutt'ring thing, That gaily seek'st about the opening flower, And opest and shutt'st thy gaudy-spangled wing Upon its bosom in the sunny hour;...
Cowslip bud, so early peeping, Warm'd by April's hazard hours; O'er thy head though sunshine's creeping, Close the threatening tempest lowers: Trembling blossom, let me bear thee...
Old-fashioned uncouth measurer of the day, I love to watch thy filtering burthen pass; Though some there are that live would bid thee stay; But these view reasons through a different glass...
Sweet gem of infant fairy-flowers! Thy smiles on life' unclosing hours, Like sunbeams lost in summer showers, They wake my fears; When reason knows its sweets and sours, They'll change to tears. ...
Sweet bottle-shaped flower of lushy red, Born when the summer wakes her warmest breeze, Among the meadow's waving grasses spread, Or 'neath the shade of hedge or clumping trees,...
Sweet, uncultivated blossom, Reared in Spring's refreshing dews, Dear to every gazer's bosom, Fair to every eye that views;-- Opening bud, whose youth can charm us, Thine be many a happy hour:...