Nature

Wood Notes

by Madison Cawein 1865–1914

From The Poems of Madison Cawein (1907)

Nature

I

There is a flute that follows me
From tree to tree:
A water flute a spirit sets
To silver lips in waterfalls,
And through the breath of violets
A sparkling music calls:--
“Hither! halloo! Oh, follow!
Down leafy hill and hollow,
Where, through clear swirls,
With feet like pearls,
Wade down the blue-eyed country girls.
Hither! halloo! Oh, follow!”

II

There is a pipe that plays to me
From tree to tree:
A bramble pipe an elfin holds
To golden lips in berry brakes,
And, swinging o’er the elder wolds,
A flickering music makes:--
“Come over! Come over
The new-mown clover!
Come over the fresh-cut hay!
Where, there by the berries,
With cheeks like cherries,
And locks with which the warm wind merries,
Brown girls are hilling the hay,
All day!
Come over the fields and away!--
Come over! Come over!”

MLA

Cawein, Madison. “Wood Notes.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cawein/341/.

Chicago

Cawein, Madison. “Wood Notes.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cawein/341/.

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