WITHIN A VALLEY NARROW.
BY INGRAM CROCKETT.
Within a valley narrow
I heard the vireo sing,
And many a white-crowned sparrow,
In silvery whispering.
The blue-eyed grass was gleaming
Upon a bank of green,
And drowsy winds were dreaming
The tulip trees between.
Above a pool unwrinkled,
Their faces fair to see
The sunlight o’er them sprinkled,
Leaned purple fleur-de-lis.
And with a grace entrancing,
Above the avens low,
White butterflies were dancing
In bright adagio.
And while for them a cricket
His silver strings did smite,
From out a wild-grape thicket
Was thrust a hand of white.
And thro’ the leaves uplifted,
I saw, a moment’s space,
Where dogwood blossoms drifted—
A dryad’s laughing face.
