Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SCHERZO, by ROBERT SILLIMAN HILLYER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SCHERZO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The flower-girl, singing, comes up from the river
Last Line: All the spring at my feet!
Subject(s): Spring


The flower-girl, singing, comes up from the river,
Up through the field to the street of the village,
Bringing her basket heaped high with the pillage
Of riverside violet, lily, and rush.
The rays of the morning flicker and quiver
Warm on her arms and her glistening face,
And twinkle on anklets that jangle together
With tinkle of bells and melodious jingle
As gay as a robin and clear as a thrush.

The wind is awake with her, fingering ribbons and lace
That flutter in tatters, bright like a paradise feather;
The wind is awake with her up from the river so early
With songs that are part of the sunrise and mingle
With the singing of birds in the willow.

The herdboy has lifted his curly head from the pillow
Of grass at her singing,
And bows to her mockingly, make a grimace,
And laughs to the laughter that ripples her face
Till the hillside is ringing.

* * * *

Wind, wind, all night through the Emperor's gardens
You gathered the weary delight of the wise and the witty
And perfume that curled out of urns of gold.
Wind, all night through the city
You gathered the word that murders, the whisper that hardens
The minds of men in a horrible mold.

Scatter the cargo you gethered, and blow through the hair
Of the flower-girl singing at dawn through the street;
Scatter the cargo you gathered, and bear
The silvery laughter that rings from the hill.

I have opened my window. Pour over me; spill
All the spring at my feet!





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