The Butterfly's Dream

A tulip, just opened, had offered to hold

A butterfly gaudy and gay;

And rocked in his cradle of crimson and gold,

The careless young slumberer lay.

For the butterfly slept;—as such thoughtless ones will,

At ease, and reclining on flowers;—

If ever they study, 'tis how they may kill

The best of their mid-summer hours!

And the butterfly dreamed, as is often the case