California Madrigals

I think I would not be
A stately tree,
Broad-boughed, with haughty crest that seeks the sky;
Too many sorrows lie
In years, too much of bitter for the sweet.
Frost-bite, and blast, and heat,
Blind drought, cool rains, must all grow wearisome,
Ere one could put away
Their leafy garb for aye,
And let death come.

Rather this wayside flower!
To live its happy hour
Of balmy air, of sunshine, and of dew.
A sinless face held upward to the blue,
A bird-song sung to it,
A butterfly to flit
On dazzling wings above it, hither, thither --
A sweet surprise of life -- and then exhale
A little fragrant soul on the soft gale,
To float -- ah, whither!

To-morrow is too far away!
                 A bed of spice the garden is,
Nor bud nor blossom that we miss;
The roses tremble on the stem,
                 The violets and anemones:
Why should we wait to gather them?
Their bloom and balm are ours to-day.
To-morrow— who can say?

To-morrow is too far away.
                 Why should we slight the joy complete,
                 The flower open at our feet?
                 For us to-day the robin sings,
                 His curved flight the swallow wings,
For us the happy moments stay.
                 Stay yet, nor leave us all too fleet!
                 For life is sweet, and youth is sweet,
And love— ah, love is sweet to-day,
To-morrow— who can say?

Love and I, one summer day, 
Took a walk together: 
Oh, how beautiful the way
Through the blooming heather! 
Far-off bells rang matin-chimes, 
Birds sang, silver-voicing; 
And our happy hearts beat time
To the earth's rejoicing.
Well-a-day! ah well-a-day! 
Then pale Grief had missed me, 
And Mirth and I kept company, 
Ere Cupid kissed me.

Love ran idly where he would, 
Child-like, all unheeding; 
I as carelessly pursued
The pathway he was leading, 
Till upon the shadowed side
Of a cool, swift river, 
Where the sunbeams smote the tide
Goldenly a-quiver: 
Well-a-day! Ah well-a-day! 
"Love," I cried, "come, rest thee."
Ah, but Heart and I were gay, 
Ere Cupid kissed me! 

Shadows of the summer-cloud
Fell on near and far land, 
Fragrantly the branches bowed
Every leafy garland; 
While, with shining head at rest, 
Next my heart reclining, 
Love's white arms, with soft caress, 
Round my neck were twining; 
Till -- ah, well! Ah, well-a-day! 
Love, who can resist thee? --
On the river-banks that day, 
Cupid kissed me.

Woe is me! In cheerless plight, 
By the cold sad river, 
Seek I Love, who, taken flight, 
Comes no more forever --
Love, from whom more pain than bliss
Every heart obtaineth; 
For the joy soon vanishes, 
While the pang remaineth.
Well-a-day! ah, well-a-day! 
Would, Love, I had missed thee! 
Peace and I are twain for aye, 
Since Cupid kissed me!