Tristram of Lyonesse and Other Poems

XIII.

John Day

Algernon Charles Swinburne


DAY was a full-blown flower in heaven, alive
    With murmuring joy of bees and birds aswarm,
    When in the skies of song yet flushed and warm
With music where all passion seems to strive
For utterance, all things bright and fierce to drive
    Struggling along the splendour of the storm,
    Day for an hour put off his fiery form,
And golden murmurs from a golden hive
Across the strong bright summer wind were heard,
    And laughter soft as smiles from girls at play
    And loud from lips of boys brow-bound with May.
Our mightiest age let fall its gentlest word,
When Song, in semblance of a sweet small bird,
    Lit fluttering on the light swift hand of Day.


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