DOWN LOVER'S LANE
Down Lover's Lane the creamy spray
Of elder blooms enchants the way,
And dappled shadows sport and play,
Down Lover's Lane!
Here happy redbirds glint and gloom,
The wildrose sheds a sweet perfume,
But death oft lurks in leaf and bloom,
Down Lover's Lane!
BENEATH THE CHESTNUT TREE
Long years ago in childhood's hour.
Beneath an old Beech Tree,
A sweeter and a daintier flower
Than ever graced a lea,
Unfolded all its beauteous bloom
And shed its rich and rare perfume
Alone, alone for me.
The dewdrop sparkling on the rose
Is fresh and fair to see;
I love the lily when it blows
And rocks the cradled bee;
But fairer than the diamond dew
Or lily, was the flower that grew
Beneath the old Beech Tree.
Rose-petaled with a golden fringe,
And calyx to agree;
A dash of sea-foam and a tinge
Of sky in harmony;
The subtile perfume sunny smiles,
And sunnier love, though but a child's,
Beneath an old Beech Tree.
One morn I sought the cooling shade
With heart as light and free
As snowy whitecap ever played
Upon the bounding sea;
But she, the fairy child, was gone,—
The flower that grew for me alone—
Beneath the old Beech Tree.
The brooks still ran the hills among
And babbled on in glee;
The birds still mated, loved and sung
In tuneful melody:
But all the soul of song was lost;
My flower had withered with the frost
Beneath the old Beech Tree.