U I SET TO RISE AGAIN U 



White shapes and red shapes danced upon the air ; 

 Then a peal of silver laughter, 

 And such singing followed after. 



As none of you, I think, has ever heard. 

 More soft it was than call of any bird. 

 Note after note, exquisitely deferr'd, 



Soft as dew drops when they settle 



In a fair flower's open petal. 



"What are these fairies?" to myself I said; 

 For answer, then, as from a garden's bed, 

 On the cold air a sudden scent was shed, 

 Scent of lilies, scent of roses, 

 Scent of summer's sweetest posies. 



And said a small, sweet voice within my ear: 

 " We flowers, that sleep through winter, once 



a year 



Are by our flower queen sent to visit here, 

 That this fact may duly flout us, 

 Gardens can look fair without us. 



" A very little time we have to play, 

 Then must we go, oh, very far away, 



[227] 



