Youth

White and red roses and yellow,

   And purple tall lilies and fine,

And air as sunshot and as mellow

   And bubbling and amber as wine,

And breezes perfuming and singing

   A trope of the tropical South,

And blossom-clad branches low-swinging,

   And kisses red-ripe to the mouth.

Morns blue and azure and tinted

   With boldest and mellowest hues,

And skies arching broad and unstinted—

   Deep cobalt a-drench with rare dews—

And laughter and pleasure unbounded,

   And fields knowing torrents nor drouth,

And life sans all corners, and rounded

   And sweet as a kiss on the mouth.

Hands cool and slim to the holding,

   And thoughts all unuttered, but said

Through eyes coaxing, gleeful and scolding,

   Or just in the poised of a head;

And hammocks inviting reclining,

   And lulling, warm winds of the South;

A yellow-gold sun ever shining,

   And kisses red-ripe on the mouth.

                                                 Lilts O Love Table Of Contents