Alabama, ipi 3. 57 



ORCHARD LANDS OF LONG AGO. 



THE orchard lands of long ago ! 

 Ah, drowsy winds, awake and blow 

 The snowy blossoms back to me 

 And all the buds that used to be ! 

 Blow back again the grassy ways, 

 Oh, truant feet, and lift the haze 

 Of happy summer from the trees 

 That trail their tresses in the seas 

 Of grain that float and overflow 

 The orchard lands of long ago! 



Blow back the melody that slips 



In hazy laughter from the lips 



That marvel much that any kiss 



Is sweeter than the apple is. 



Blow back the twitter of the birds, 



The lisp, the thrill and all the words 



Of merriment that found the shine 



Of summer time in glorious wine 



That drenched the leaves that loved it so 



In orchard lands of long ago! 



Oh, memory, alight and sing 

 Where rosy bellied pippins cling 

 And golden russets glint and gleam 

 As in the old Arabian dream — 

 The fruits of that enchanted tree 

 The glad Aladdin robbed for me ! 

 And, drowsy winds, awake and fan 

 My blood as when it overran 

 A heart ripe as the apples grow 

 In orchard lands of long ago! 



— James Whitcomb Riley. 



