d&atflen 



Had I a garden, it should lie 



All smiling to the sun, 

 And after bird and butterfly 



Children should romp and run; 

 Filling their little laps with flowers, 



The air with shout and song, 

 While golden crests in guelder bowers 



Rippled the whole day long. 



Had I a garden, alleys green 



Should lead where none would guess, 

 Save lovers, to exchange unseen, 



Shy whisper and caress. 

 For them the nightingale should sing 



Long after it was June, 

 And they should kiss and deem it spring, 



Under the harvest moon. 



Had I a garden, claustral yews 



Should shut out railing wind, 

 That Poets might on sadness muse 



With a majestic mind ; 

 With ear attuned and god-like gaze 



Scan Heaven, and fathom Hell, 

 Then through life's labyrinthine maze 



Chant to us, "All is well!" 



Had I a garden, it should grow 



Shelter where feeble feet 

 Might loiter long, or wander slow, 



And deem decadence sweet; 

 80 



