When summer time has come, and all <br />The world is in the magic thrall <br />Of perfumed airs that lull each sense <br />To fits of drowsy indolence; <br />When skies are deepest blue above, <br />And flow'rs aflush,--then most I love <br />To start, while early dews are damp, <br />And wend my way in woodland tramp <br />Where forests rustle, tree on tree, <br />And sing their silent songs to me; <br />Where pathways meet and path ways part,-- <br />To walk with Nature heart by heart, <br />Till wearied out at last I lie <br />Where some sweet stream steals singing by <br />A mossy bank; where violets vie <br />In color with the summer sky,-- <br />Or take my rod and line and hook, <br />And wander to some darkling brook, <br />Where all day long the willows dream, <br />And idly droop to kiss the stream, <br />And there to loll from morn till night-- <br />Unheeding nibble, run, or bite-- <br />Just for the joy of being there <br />And drinking in the summer air, <br />The summer sounds, and summer sights, <br />That set a restless mind to rights <br />When grief and pain and raging doubt <br />Of men and creeds have worn it out; <br />The birds' song and the water's drone, <br />The humming bees' low monotone, <br />The murmur of the passing breeze, <br />And all the sounds akin to these, <br />That make a man in summer time <br />Feel only fit for rest and rhyme. <br />Joy springs all radiant in my breast; <br />Though pauper poor, than king more blest, <br />The tide beats in my soul so strong <br />That happiness breaks forth in song, <br />And rings aloud the welkin blue <br />With all the songs I ever knew. <br />O time of rapture! time of song! <br />How swiftly glide thy days along <br />Adown the current of the years, <br />Above the rocks of grief and tears! <br />'Tis wealth enough of joy for me <br />In summer time to simply be.<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-summer-time/
