and if she smiled, did anybody see? I must confess... |
1 In Greece, a queen, a young bird, and a tree In ancient splendor held a courtly tea With cups chipped up, they held it regally Set back with stone, verbena, and the sea They three sat down before a glorious feast Of which ‘twas said that nothing lacked the least Demeter’s kiss lay ripe upon the spread, Had made up cakes divine of cheese and bread The young bird made a speech that brought the host To tears of joy, and sealed it with a toast Unto the tree, with shade so comely gird The tree wept like a maid, with not a word Would any have believed, if they had seen? Yet, no one noticed, there, among the green Thus was a week within an hour spent So jovial in their careless merriment Under the blessing of the gods of old The tales of whom they laughed as they retold The dolphins sang of these, and kings, and men Of Orpheus brought safely home again And through the bay ‘twas all an Echo trilled Until of food and song they all were filled Above, Apollo beamed, and in his power Did stay the sun its course another hour In which a woman, sitting by the sea Did sigh into her empty cup of tea And if she smiled, did anybody see? I must confess, the “queen” was only me.
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