The Song of the Poplar 



By Millie Noel Long 



Green and gray, slate-color and white 

 Are the hues of the trees and clouds tonight. 

 Dashing, pattering dro])s of rain 

 Make miniature rivers on the pane. 

 The poplar is showing its changing light, 

 Silver and delicate green and white. 

 Dancing and tossing in seeming glee. 

 And its swish has a musical sound to me — 

 A sonata complete, with an unwritten score, 

 Its Allegro repeated o'er and o'er — 

 A song in snatches, a rhythmic bass. 

 Every part in its rightful place ; 

 A sound like the ringing of elfin chimes 

 Adds to the harmony, too. betimes. 

 When the storm is spent and the \vind is gone 

 The rhythmic bass will still go on, 

 With retarded movement, beating slow, — 

 And the solemn Andante, sweet and low- 

 Will change to Adagio, deep and faint 

 Pulsing on with a sad complaint 

 Till a fragment cloud sends a frisking breeze 

 Through the gently swaying, pensive trees. 

 And brings back the chime as of elfin bells 

 And the added harmony louder swells 

 And more assured and faster grows 

 As the brightened horizon faintly glows. 

 Till the merry Allegro, back once more. 

 Is repeated joyously, o'er and o'er. 



A belated bird-song, mellow and clear, 

 Is heard from a clump of bushes near, 

 Then bird-song, and music, and faint, far liglit 

 Give place to the slumbrous peace of night. 



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