Airy, lovely, heavenly thing!
Butterfly with quivering
wing!
Hovering, in thy transient
hour,
Over every bush and
flower,
Feasting upon flowers
and dew,
Thyself a brilliant
blossom too.
Who, with rosy fingers fine,
Purpled o’er those
wings of thine?
Was it some sylph whose
tender care
Spangled thy robes so
fine and fair,
And wove them of the
morning air?
I feel thy little throbbing
heart.
Thou fear’st,
e’en now, death’s bitter smart
Fly little spirit, fly away!
Be free and joyful,
thy short day!
Image, thou dost seem
to me,
Of that which I may,
one day, be,
When I shall drop this
robe of earth,
And wake into a spirit’s
birth.