William H. Davies

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The White Cascade

What happy mortal sees that mountain now,

The white cascade that's shining on its brow;

The white cascade that's both a bird and star,

That has a ten-mile voice and shines as far?

Though I may never leave this land again,

Yet every spring my mind must cross the main

To hear and see that water-bird and star

That on the mountain sings, and shines so far.

Easter

What exultations in my mind,

From the love-bite of this Easter wind!

My head thrown back, my face doth shine

Like yonder Sun's, but warmer mine.

A butterfly -- from who knows where --

Comes with a stagger through the air,

And, lying down, doth ope and close

His wings, as babies work their toes:

Perhaps he thinks of pressing tight

Into his wings a little light!

And many a bird hops in between

The leaves he dreams of, long and green,

And sings for nipple-buds that show

Where the full-breasted leaves must grow.

Raptures

Sing for the sun your lyric, lark,

Of twice ten thousand notes;

Sing for the moon, you nightingales,

Whose light shall kiss your throats;

Sing, sparrows, for the soft warm rain,

To wet your feathers through;

And when a rainbow's in the sky,

Sing you, cuckoo -- Cuckoo !

Sing for your five blue eggs, fond thrush,

By many a leaf concealed;

You starlings, wrens, and blackbirds, sing

In ever wood and field:

While I, who fail to give my love

Long raptures twice as fine,

Will for her beauty breathe this one --

A sigh, that's more divine.

Cowslips and Larks

I hear it said yon land is poor,

In spite of those rich cowslips there --

And all the singing larks it shoots

To heaven from the cowslips' roots.

But I , with eyes that beauty find,

And music ever in my mind,

Feed my thoughts well upon that grass

Which starves the horse, the ox, and ass.

So here I stand, two miles to come

To Shapwick and my ten-days-home,

Taking my summer's joy, although

The distant clouds are dark and low,

And comes a storm that, fierce and strong,

Has brought the Mendip hills along:

Those hills that when the light is there

Are many a sunny mile from here.

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