Life (priest and poet say) is but a dream;
I wish no happier one than to be laid
Beneath a cool syringa’s scented shade,
Or wavy willow, by the running stream,
Brimful of moral, where the dragon-fly,
Wanders as careless and content as I.
Thanks for this fancy, insect king,
Of purple crest and filmy wing,
Who with indifference givest up
The water-lily’s golden cup,
To come again and overlook
What I am writing in my book.
Believe me, most who read the line
Will read with hornier eyes than thine;
And yet their souls shall live for ever,
And thine drop dead into the river!
God pardon them, O insect king,
Who fancy so unjust a thing!
(Walter Savage Landor)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Life Poems, Soul Poems, Dreams Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Belief & Faith Poems, Books Poems, Running Poems, Morality Poems, Insects PoemsBased on Keywords: givest, dragon-fly, wavy, overlook, brimful, filmy, water-lily, syringa