Away back in an old city I saw a bridge. That bridge belonged to Venice. It was to the rainbow clear It traveled, Over an old canal. You had to pass a cloudy gate To reach the color . . . Bridges do sometimes begin on the earth And end in the sky. NIGHT GOES RUSHING BY Night goes hurrying over Like sweeping clouds; The birds are nested; their song is silent. The wind says oo--oo--oo--through the trees For their lullaby. The moon shines down on the sleeping birds. My cottage roof is like a sheet of silk Spun like a cobweb. My apple-trees are bare as the oaks in the forest; When the moon shines I see no leaves. I am alone and very quiet Hoping the moon may say something Before long. DANDELION O little soldier with the golden helmet, What are you guarding on my lawn? You with your green gun And your yellow beard, Why do you stand so stiff? There is only the grass to fight! IF I COULD TELL YOU THE WAY Down through the forest to the river I wander. There are swans flying, Swans on the water, Duck, wild birds. Fairies live here; They know no sorrow. Birds, winds, They are the only people. If I could tell you the way to this place, You would sell your house and your land For silver or a little gold, You would sail up the river, Tie your boat to the Black Stone, Build a leaf-hut, make a twig-fire, Gather mushrooms, drink spring-water, Live alone and sing to yourself For a year and a year and a year! ROSE-PETAL Petal with rosy cheeks, Petal with thoughts of your own, Petal of my crimson-white flower out of June, Little petal of my heart! POEMS See the fur coats go by! The morning is like the inside of a snow-apple. I will curl myself cushion-shape On the window-seat; I will read poems by snow-light. If I cannot understand them so, I will turn them upside down And read them by the red candles Of garden brambles. SEAGARDE I will return to you O stillest and dearest, To see the pearl of light That flashes in your golden hair; To hear you sing your songs of starlight And tell your stories of the wonderful land Of stars and fleecy sky; To say to you that Seagarde will soon be here, Seagarde the fairy With her seagulls of hope! EASTER On Easter morn Up the faint cloudy sky I hear the Easter bell, Ding dong . . . ding dong . . . Easter morning scatters lilies On every doorstep; Easter morning says a glad thing Over and over. Poor people, beggars, old women Are hearing the Easter bell . . . Ding dong . . . ding dong . . . BLUEBIRD