Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
A Perfect Day
By Ina Donna Coolbrith (1841–1928)I
Smiles all adown the land;
The lilies lean along the way;
Serene on either hand,
The full-blown roses, red and white,
In perfect beauty stand.
Forgets, nor longer grieves;
A light wind lifts the bladed corn,
And ripples the ripe sheaves;
High overhead some happy bird
Sings softly in the leaves.
A peach falls to the ground;
The tinkle of a bell is heard
From some far pasture-mound;
The crickets in the warm, green grass
Chirp with a softened sound.
Blue, with not anywhere
The shadow of a passing cloud;
The sea looks up as fair—
So bright a picture on its breast
As if it smiled to wear.
Too glad for happy tears!
The fair earth seems as in a dream
Of immemorial years:
Perhaps of that far morn when she
Sang with her sister spheres.
Some sacred Sabbath feast;
It may be that some patient soul
Has entered to God’s rest,
For whose dear sake He smiles on us,
And all the day is blest.