A Summer Day

White clouds, like thistledown at fault,     That drift through heaven's azure vault.     The sun beams down; the weedy ground     Vibrates with many an insect sound.     Blackberry-lilies in the noon     Lean to the creek with eyes a-swoon,     Where, in a shallow, silver gleams     Of minnows and a heron dreams     An old road, clouding pale the heat     Behind a slow hoof's muffled beat:     And there, hill-gazing at the skies,     A pond, within whose languor lies     A twinkle, like an eye that smiles     In thought; that with a dream beguiles     The day: a. dream of clouds that drift,     And arms the willow trees uplift,     Protectingly, as if to hide     The wildbird on its nest that cried.     Now mists that mass thesunset-dyes     Build an Arabia in the skies,     Through which the sun in pomp retires,     Torched to his room with saffron fires;     And 'thwart his palace door is laid     A crescent sign, a moony blade,     Then glittering in a cloud is sheathed;     And, dripping crimson, fire-wreathed,     A magic scimetar of flame     Is slowly drawn before the same.     The door of Day is closed; its bar     Put up, one bright and golden star;     While, crowding all the corridors     Of Dusk, the shadows, blackamoors     Of darkness, glide; and zephyrs sweep     Mist-gowns of musk through halls of Sleep     Dim odalisques of Night, who wait     Upon their lord who lies in state.