Here in this gold-green evening end, <br />While air is soft and sky is clear, <br />What tender message shall I send <br />To her I hold so dear? <br />What rose of song with breath like myrrh, <br />And leaf of dew and fair pure beams <br />Shall I select and give to her— <br />The lady of my dreams? <br />Alas! the blossom I would take, <br />The song as sweet as Persian speech, <br />And carry for my lady’s sake, <br />Is not within my reach. <br />I have no perfect gift of words, <br />Or I would hasten now to send <br />A ballad full of tunes of birds <br />To please my lovely friend. <br /> <br />But this pure pleasure is my own, <br />That I have power to waft away <br />A hope as bright as heaven’s zone <br />On this her natal day. <br />May all her life be like the light <br />That softens down in spheres divine, <br />“As lovely as a Lapland night,” <br />All grace and chastened shine!<br /><br />Henry Kendall<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-birthday-trifle/
