The snowy clouds, soft sleeping lambkins, lie
Along the dark blue meadows of the sky,
And the bright stars, like golden daffodils,
Are blooming thickly by.
And Luna, gentle shepherdess, the while
Keeps near her flock and guards it with her smile;
I almost fancy I can hear her song
Down to this shadowed stile.
Lo! Zephyrus, fond lover, comes to woo;
With airy step he hastes the pastures through,
And steals a kiss from Luna as she nods
Drowsy with fragrant dew.
She starts; the little lambs aroused from sleep,
Fly hence; but Luna near her swain doth keep.
Oh, it was ever thus since lover came
'Twixt shepherdess and sheep!