onsdag 1 april 2009

Afternoon tea

From "Under the Window" by Kate Greenaway
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Afternoon Tea
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A pretty cottage, and maidens three,
Blithe and happy as maids can be,
Out in the garden at afternoon tea.

Just such a feast as girls will make—
Fruit and flowers and a big plum cake,
And plenty of laughter for laughter's sake.

The sunflowers nodded their heads so tall,
The dahlias smiled 'neath the moss-grown wall,
The three little maids outdid them all.

I warrant me in that garden gay
Was never a bloom more fair than they,
As they sipped their tea on that summer day.

Three little maids. Ah! one is dead,
And one is married; and one, unwed,
Now lives alone in the old homestead.

There are silver threads in her golden hair,
Her cheek is pallid and lined with care,
Yet is she still accounted fair.

And daily her gracious, tender ways
Win a more loving meed of praise
Than did the prime of her girlish days.

Yes, youth will wane as the years go by;
Too soon do the rose-leaves scattered lie,
But charms there are which may never die.

And hence it happens that oft we trace
Through timeworn features the soul's sweet grace,
And beauty lives in a faded face.
000000000000 00 Sydney Grey.

3 kommentarer:

  1. What a charming poem, new to me, thank you. When my daughter was young she had an absolute passion for all things Kate Greenaway, nice to be reminded of that time.

    C.B

    SvaraRadera
  2. Yes, it was new to me too when I found it in an old magazine - and I haven't been able to find out anything about the author.
    Margaretha

    SvaraRadera
  3. Oh, this is wonderful, Margaretha. I've never read it or heard of the writer; I am so grateful to you.

    SvaraRadera