C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

William Macdonald

ALL the meadow-lands were gay

Once upon a morn of May;

All the tree of life was dight

With the blossoms of delight.

And my whole heart was a-tune

With the songs of long ere noon,—

Dew-bedecked and fresh and free

As the unsunned meadows be.

“Lo!” I said unto my spirit,

“Earth and sky thou dost inherit.”

Forth I wandered, void of care,

In the largesse of the air.

By there came a damosel;

At a look I loved her well:

But she passed and would not stay—

And all the rest has gone away.

And now no fields are fair to see,

Nor any bud on any tree;

Nor have I share in earth or sky—

All for a maiden passing by!