-Marcia Knight

The Changing River

The Falling Leaf

Through shadowed arches flowing,

The river slowly glides,

Where long-leaved flowers are growing 

And where the Sedge-bird hides.

Under the bridge it passes,

Lapping its prison bars;

When night winds stir the grasses,

It dreams beneath the stars.

Then cold as mountain ridges,

The sullen water lies;

Now gray with dancing midges,

Or singing lullabies.

Lashed into fretful foaming,

Moving with stately swell,

Till in the silent gloaming

It sobs a sad farewell.

Of Pain and Passion preaching,

As water frets the stone,

One lesson ever teaching,

It flows in Peace -- alone!

October with the sweet and wistful eyes,

Majestic in her grace of moulded form,

Now wanders forth in Winter's fair disguise,

While leaves fall fast, a whirling crimson storm.

Clad in a flaming robe with fringes grey,

A yellow garland on her nut-brown hair,

The Empress of the Woods pursues her way,

In light and tender mood strips hedgerows bare.

With languid grace she sways the giant trees,

The fiery gems, as gold and rubies fall;

Girdles and necklets trail upon the breeze

To lie, a tarnished heap, a sombre pall.

Watching with slumbering passion and regret

The shrivelled leaves, — as hopes and aims which die,

October gives her purple amulet

Of vines and heather, as she chants 'Good-bye.' 

Little Boy Blue is fast asleep,

The cows have stolen his horn,

And straying up the grassy steep,

Have left the sheep forlorn.

The boy is in the Land o' Dreams,

Gone with his Teddy Bear,

His horse and a box of choc'late creams

As rations for the pair.

Little Boy Blue is a soldier bold,

And rides in the Land o' Nod;

He wears a tunic trimmed with gold,

While 'Teddy' forms the squad.

Then suddenly the Captain's tired

(He can be so in dreams),

For, after all, no shots are fired, 

And nothing's what it seems!

Little Boy Blue has ceased to fight--

We know it by his smile;

Down the road where the sun is bright

He climbs the meadow stile,

To wander on where violets grow,

Blue as his shining eyes;

Then finds he has so far to go,

He wakes in sweet surprise!

Little Boy Blue, oh, tell me the way

The dream-flowers grow in sleep;

Show me the path you found to-day,

Where long cool grasses sweep.

For we would dream and wake with smiles

To find it all come true--

We who have wandered miles and miles

On dusty roads, Boy Blue!

An Old Garden: A Memory

 The Water Lilies

Tall grasses hide the door

In ivy-covered wall,

Near dull grey steps of stone which bore

The marks of Time-- a hidden store

Of memories sweet which evermore

Across the years will call.

The child who loved to stray

With book of fairy lore

In quiet paths, the boy at play,

The huntsman at the dawn of day,

The lovers in the time of May

Will keep their tryst no more.

There down the old stone flight

Of steps with moss o'ergrown,

Once passed the bride with roses white,

The soldier eager for the fight,

The dead, who living, made our light,

And dying left us lone.

The sunsets fiery gold

Makes radiant the sky;

It shines upon the garden old

And visions come like tales re-told

To vanish as the night wind cold

Breathes out a gentle sigh. 

Hear the whisper of the rushes

Bending o'er the meadow pool;

Idly wafting airy greetings

To the lilies white and cool.

Tall and debonair the rushes,

Gay and careless, light of mien;

Purest maidens are the lilies

Each a chaste, a snow-white queen.

Listen not! ye dainty maidens,

Hide your secret in your heart;

Cavaliers may whisper sweetly,

Sighing softly, 'We must part'.

Wanton breezes, sun's hot glances

Kiss and woo thee into life;

Heed no whisper of the rushes,

Stars of peace! Love bringeth strife.

Calmly shine as proud white lilies,

Royal maids in robes of green;

Mirrored on the silent river,

Hearts of gold in silver sheen.