Fancies

Birds go seeking Mates, All on a day made gay. “Trees are blooming, Branches waiting,— Will you come?” Shy the answer— Swift surrender— Roundelays are heard. Time is flying, Summer coming, When the families Say farewell. In a pasture green Fair flowers bloom; Gay their faces— Bright their dresses. Swiftly seeking, Whirling, wheeling, Comes a flock At noon. “Here are daisies, Sweetest grasses, Buttercups and clover, Let us linger, sip and treasure.” Summer passes, Grasses perish, But in sweetness Is Springtime cherished. Daylight passes, Night approaches, Lights begin to gleam. In the houses One can fancy Nestlings tucked to rest. Good night, sea, Good night world, All my soul goes out To thee. Happy meeting, Friendly greeting Upon the milky way.

Upon the ocean wide Two little ships set sail. Over an ocean blue Two little birds sailed true. Kneeling upon a nursery floor Two little children fair. Under a star-lit sky A youth and a maiden, shy. With sightless eyes and folded hands, Old age murmurs, “God knows best.” Faith—trust—love—courage! That is all—God does the rest.

Thinking, thinking, thinking, As the needle travels to and fro Through sheerest linen—finest lace— Weaving patterns—all unseen, Upon its face. Pictures vivid, pictures dim, Pictures gay and with sadness grim, Tiny feet—clinging hands— All are in the fabric’s sheen. Unseen tracery takes its place, To weave again its mystic theme.

The only value of thinking Is thinking of things worth while, Of thinking of what you want to be, And thinking of things to do For the folks—who know not the value Of thinking of things worth while. All that you are, or will be, Is vested in thinking, And it’s the thoughts worth while, And the deeds well planned, Which build your mansion here—and there, So what are you thinking now—there? Oh! the hours we spend, And the days we spend, In thinking no thoughts at all— For the only thoughts—which really count— Are the thoughts of love sent out to all, For they are the thoughts worth while.