The poetical works of George MacDonald Volume Ii Part 22

What is the thought of the bee Fleeting so silently, Or flitting--with busy hum, But a careless go-and-come-- From flower-chalice to chalice, Like a prince from palace to palace?

What makes them alive, so very-- Some of them, surely, merry.

And others so stately calm They might be singing a psalm?

I cannot tell what they think--- Only know they eat and drink, And on all that lies about With a quiet heart look out, Each after its kind, stately or coy, Solemn like man, gamesome like boy, Glad with its own mysterious joy.

And G.o.d, who knows their thoughts and ways Though his the creatures do not know, From his full heart fills each of theirs: Into them all his breath doth go; Good and better with them he shares; Content with their bliss while they have no prayers, He takes their joy for praise.

If thou wouldst be like him, little one, go And be kind with a kindness undefiled; Who gives for the pleasure of thanks, my child, G.o.d's gladness cannot know.

III.

Root met root in the spongy ground, Searching each for food: Each turned aside, and away it wound.

And each got something good.

Sound met sound in the wavy air-- That made a little to-do!

They jostled not long, but were quick and fair; Each found its path and flew.

Drop dashed on drop, as the rain-shower fell; They joined and sank below: In gathered thousands they rose a well, With a singing overflow.

Wind met wind in a garden green, They began to push and fret: A tearing whirlwind arose between: There love lies bleeding yet.

_WHAT MAKES SUMMER?_

Winter froze both brook and well; Fast and fast the snowflakes fell; Children gathered round the hearth Made a summer of their mirth; When a boy, so lately come That his life was yet one sum Of delights--of aimless rambles.

Romps and dreams and games and gambols, Thought aloud: "I wish I knew What makes summer--that I do!"

Father heard, and it did show him How to write a little poem.

What makes summer, little one, Do you ask? It is the sun.

Want of heat is all the harm, Summer is but winter warm.

'Tis the sun--yes, that one there, Dim and gray, low in the air!

Now he looks at us askance, But will lift his countenance Higher up, and look down straighter.

Rise much earlier, set much later, Till we sing out, "Hail, Well-comer, Thou hast brought our own old Summer!"

When the sun thus rises early And keeps s.h.i.+ning all day rarely, Up he draws the larks to meet him, Earth's bird-angels, wild to greet him; Up he draws the clouds, and pours Down again their s.h.i.+ning showers; Out he draws the gra.s.s and clover, Daisies, b.u.t.tercups all over; Out he wiles all flowers to stare At their father in the air-- He all light, they how much duller, Yet son-suns of every colour!

Then he draws their odours out, Sends them on the winds about.

Next he draws out flying things-- Out of eggs, fast-flapping wings; Out of lumps like frozen snails, b.u.t.terflies with splendid sails; Draws the blossoms from the trees, From their hives the buzzy bees, Golden things from muddy cracks-- Beetles with their burnished backs; Laughter draws he from the river Gleaming back to the gleam-giver; Light he sends to every nook That no creature be forsook; Draws from gloom and pain and sadness, Hope and blessing, peace and gladness, Making man's heart sing and s.h.i.+ne With his brilliancy divine: Summer, thus it is he makes it, And the little child he takes it.

Day's work done, adown the west Lingering he goes to rest; Like a child, who, blissful yet, Is unwilling to forget, And, though sleepy, heels and head, Thinks he cannot go to bed.

Even when down behind the hill Back his bright look s.h.i.+neth still, Whose keen glory with the night Makes the lovely gray twilight-- Drawing out the downy owl, With his musical bird-howl; Drawing out the leathery bats-- Mice they are, turned airy cats-- Noiseless, sly, and slippery things Swimming through the air on wings; Drawing out the feathery moth, Lazy, drowsy, very loath; Drawing children to the door For one goodnight-frolic more; Drawing from the glow-worms' tails Glimmers green in gra.s.sy dales; Making ocean's phosphor-flashes Glow as if they were sun-ashes.

Then the moon comes up the hill, Wide awake, but dreaming still, Soft and slow, as if in fear Lest her path should not be clear.

Like a timid lady she Looks around her daintily, Begs the clouds to come about her, Tells the stars to s.h.i.+ne without her, Then unveils, and, bolder grown, Climbs the steps of her blue throne: Stately in a calm delight, Mistress of a whole fair night, Lonely but for stars a few, There she sits in silence blue, And the world before her lies Faint, a round shade in the skies!

But what fun is all about When the humans are shut out!

Shadowy to the moon, the earth Is a very world of mirth!

Night is then a dream opaque Full of creatures wide awake!

Noiseless then, on feet or wings, Out they come, all moon-eyed things!

In and out they pop and play, Have it all their own wild way, Fly and frolic, scamper, glow; Treat the moon, for all her show, State, and opal diadem, Like a nursemaid watching them.

And the nightingale doth snare All the merry tumult rare, All the music and the magic, All the comic and the tragic, All the wisdom and the riot Of the midnight moonlight diet, In a diamond hoop of song, Which he trundles all night long.

What doth make the sun, you ask, Able for such mighty task?

He is not a lamp hung high Sliding up and down the sky, He is carried in a hand: That's what makes him strong and grand!

From that hand comes all his power; If it set him down one hour, Yea, one moment set him by, In that moment he would die, And the winter, ice, and snow Come on us, and never go.

Need I tell you whose the hand Bears him high o'er sea and land?

_MOTHER NATURE._

Beautiful mother is busy all day, So busy she neither can sing nor say; But lovely thoughts, in a ceaseless flow, Through her eyes, and her ears, and her bosom go-- Motion, sight, and sound, and scent, Weaving a royal, rich content.

When night is come, and her children sleep, Beautiful mother her watch doth keep; With glowing stars in her dusky hair Down she sits to her music rare; And her instrument that never fails, Is the hearts and the throats of her nightingales.

_THE MISTLETOE._

Kiss me: there now, little Neddy, Do you see her staring steady?

There again you had a chance of her!

Didn't you catch the pretty glance of her?

See her nest! On any planet Never was a sweeter than it!

Never nest was such as this is: Tis the nest of all the kisses, With the mother kiss-bird sitting All through Christmas, never flitting, Kisses, kisses, kisses hatching, Sweetest birdies, for the catching!

Oh, the precious little brood Always in a loving mood!-- There's one under Mamy's hood!

There, that's one I caught this minute, Musical as any linnet!

Where it is, your big eyes question, With of doubt a wee suggestion?

There it is--upon mouth merry!

There it is--upon cheek cherry!

There's another on chin-chinnie!

Now it's off, and lights on Minnie!

There's another on nose-nosey!

There's another on lip-rosy!

And the kissy-bird is hatching Hundreds more for only catching.

Why the mistletoe she chooses, And the Christmas-tree refuses?

There's a puzzle for your mother?

I'll present you with another!

Tell me why, you question-asker, Cruel, heartless mother-tasker-- Why, of all the trees before her, Gathered round, or spreading o'er her, Jenny Wren should choose the apple For her nursery and chapel!

Or Jack Daw build in the steeple High above the praying people!

Tell me why the limping plover O'er moist meadow likes to hover; Why the partridge with such trouble Builds her nest where soon the stubble Will betray her hop-thumb-cheepers To the eyes of all the reapers!-- Tell me, Charley; tell me, Janey; Answer all, or answer any, And I'll tell you, with much pleasure, Why this little bird of treasure Nestles only in the mistletoe, Never, never goes the thistle to.

Not an answer? Tell without it?

Yes--all that I know about it:-- Mistletoe, then, cannot flourish, Cannot find the food to nourish But on other plant when planted-- And for kissing two are wanted.

That is why the kissy-birdie Looks about for oak-tree st.u.r.dy And the plant that grows upon it Like a wax-flower on a bonnet.

But, my blessed little mannie, All the birdies are not cannie That the kissy-birdie hatches!