My First Summer 



them a high waterfall in itself, descending 

 from the cliffs and hollows of the clouds to 

 the cliffs and hollows of the rocks, out of 

 the sky-thunder into the thunder of the 

 falling rivers. Some, falling on meadows 

 and bogs, creep silently out of sight to the 

 grass roots, hiding softly as in a nest, slip- 

 ping, oozing hither, thither, seeking and 

 finding their appointed work. Some, descend- 

 ing through the spires of the woods, sift 

 spray through the shining needles, whisper- 

 ing peace and good cheer to each one of 

 them. Some drops with happy aim glint on 

 the sides of crystals, quartz, hornblende, 

 garnet, zircon, tourmaline, feldspar, patter 

 on grains of gold and heavy way-worn nug- 

 gets; some, with blunt plap-plap and low 

 bass drumming, fall on the broad leaves 

 of veratrum, saxifrage, cypripedium. Some 

 happy drops fall straight into the cups of 

 flowers, kissing the lips of lilies. How far 

 they have to go, how many cups to fill, great 

 and small, cells too small to be seen, cups 

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