Why o'er the verdant banks of Ouse <br />Does yonder Halcyon speed so fast? <br />'Tis all because she would not lose <br />Her favourite calm, that will not last. <br /> <br />The sun with azure paints the skies, <br />The stream reflects each flowery spray, <br />And, frugal of her time, she flies <br />To take her fill of love and play! <br /> <br />See her, when rugged Boreas blows, <br />Warm in some rocky cell remain; <br />To seek for pleasure, well she knows, <br />Would only then enhance the pain. <br /> <br />'Descend,' she cries, 'thou hated shower, <br />Deform my limpid waves to-day, <br />For I have chose a fairer hour <br />To take my fill of love and play!' <br /> <br />You, too, my Silvia, sure will own <br />Life's azure seasons swiftly roll, <br />And when our youth or health is flown, <br />To think of love, but shocks the soul. <br /> <br />Could Damon but deserve thy charms, <br />As thou art Damon's only theme; <br />He'd fly as quick to Celia's arms <br />As yonder Halcyon stems the stream.<br /><br />William Shenstone<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-halcyon/
