Fair Eve

Fair Eve, as fair and still     As fairest thought, climbs the high sheltering hill;     As still and fair     As the white cloud asleep in the deep air.     As cool, as fair and cool,     As starlight swimming in a lonely pool;     Subtle and mild     As through her eyes the soul looks of a child.     A linnet sings and sings,     A shrill swift cleaves the air with blackest wings;     White twinkletails     Run frankly in their meadow as day fails.     On such a night, a night     That seems but the full sleep of tired light,     I look and wait     For what I know not, looking long and late.     Is it for a dream I look,     A vision from the Tree of Heaven shook,     As sweetness shaken     From the fresh limes on lonely ways forsaken?     A dream of one, maybe,     Who comes like sudden wind from oversea?     Or most loved swallow     Whom all fair days and golden musics follow?--     More sudden yet, more strange     Than magic airs on magic hills that range:--     Of one who'll steep     The soul in soft forgetfulness ere it sleep.     Yes, down the hillside road,     Where Eve's unhasty feet so gently trod,     Follow His feet     Whose leaf-like echoes make even spring more sweet.