Tinkle, tinkle, Periwinkle! Soft and clear, Far or near, Still the mellow notes I hear! Up and down the sunny hills, Here you go, there you go, Where the happy mountain rills Tinkle soft, tinkle low; Where the willows, all a-quiver, Dip their long wands in the river, And the hemlock shadows fall By the gray rocks, cool and tall— In and out, And round about, Here you go, There you go!
Tinkle, tinkle, Periwinkle! Here and there, Everywhere, Floats the music on the air! Through the pastures wide and free, Here you go, there you go, Making friends with bird and bee, Flying high, flying low; In and out, where lilies blowing Nod above wild grasses growing, Where the sweet-fern and the brake All around rich odors make, Where the mosses cling and creep To the rocks, and up the steep— In and out You wind about, Here and there, Everywhere!
Tinkle, tinkle, Periwinkle! Day is done, And the sun Now its royal couch hath won! Homeward through the winding lane, Here you go, there you go, While the bell in sweet refrain Tinkles clear, tinkles low— Tinkles softly through the gloaming, “Drop the bars—I’m tired of roaming Here and there, everywhere Through the pastures wide and fair. Home is best, Home and rest!” Through the bars goes Periwinkle, While the bell goes tinkle, tinkle, Low and clear, Saying, softly, “Night is here!”
AFTERNOON
O perfect day, I bid thee stay! Too fast thy glad hours slip away; The morn, the noon, Have fled too soon— Delay, O golden afternoon!
O peerless Sun, Thou radiant one Whose dazzling course is half-way run, Stay, stay thy flight Down yon blue height, Nor haste thee to the arms of night!
The west wind blows O’er beds of rose, But does not stir my deep repose. In dreamful guise I close mine eyes, Borne on its wings to Paradise.
Beneath this tree Half consciously. I share the life of all things free, Hearing the beat Of rhythmic feet, As the grasses run my hand to meet.
The wild bee’s hum, The lone bird’s drum, O’er the wide pastures faintly come; And soft and clear Falls on my ear The cow-bell’s tinkle, far and near!
Before my eyes Three blue peaks rise, Piercing the bright autumnal skies; Silent and grand, On either hand, Far mountain heights majestic stand.