The quiet August noon has come,
A slumberous silence fills the sky,
The fields are still, the woods are dumb,
In glassy sleep the waters lie.
And mark yon soft white clouds that rest
Above our vale, a moveless throng;
The cattle on the mountain's breast
Enjoy the grateful shadow long.
Oh, how unlike those merry hours
In early June when Earth laughs out,
When the fresh winds make love to flowers,
And woodlands sing and waters shout.
When in the grass sweet voices talk,
And strains of tiny music swell
From every moss-cup of the rock,
From every nameless blossom's bell.
But now a joy too deep for sound,
A peace no other season knows,
Hushes the heavens and wraps the ground,
The blessing of supreme repose.
Away! I will not be, to-day,
The only slave of toil and care.
Away from desk and dust! away!
I'll be as idle as the air.
Beneath the open sky abroad,
Among the plants and breathing things,
The sinless, peaceful works of God,
I'll share the calm the season brings.
Come, thou, in whose soft eyes I see
The gentle meanings of thy heart,
One day amid the woods with me,
From men and all their cares apart.
And where, upon the meadow's breast,
The shadow of the thicket lies,
The blue wild flowers thou gatherest
Shall glow yet deeper near thine eyes.
Come, and when mid the calm profound,
I turn, those gentle eyes to seek,
They, like the lovely landscape round,
Of innocence and peace shall speak.
Rest here, beneath the unmoving shade,
And on the silent valleys gaze,
Winding and widening, till they fade
In yon soft ring of summer haze.
The village trees their summits rear
Still as its spire, and yonder flock
At rest in those calm fields appear
As chiselled from the lifeless rock.
One tranquil mount the scene o'erlooks--
There the hushed winds their sabbath keep
While a near hum from bees and brooks
Comes faintly like the breath of sleep.
Well may the gazer deem that when,
Worn with the struggle and the strife,
And heart-sick at the wrongs of men,
The good forsakes the scene of life;
Like this deep quiet that, awhile,
Lingers the lovely landscape o'er,
Shall be the peace whose holy smile
Welcomes him to a happier shore.
Come, thou, in whose soft eyes I see The gentle meanings of thy heart, One day amid the woods with me, From men and all their cares apart. know the gentle meanings of my heart. a very fine poem. tony
Beneath the open sky abroad, Among the plants and breathing things, The sinless, peaceful works of God, I'll share the calm the season brings........ there summer is described rhythmically with the beautiful poetic rhyming.........great
What a ramble in Summer time! Beautiful depiction in august compared to June's activities, the poet shows his special style in composition of Nature quite enjoyable to muse over to attain peace fine! Thanks for sharing this beautiful poem!
Shall be the peace whose holy smile Welcomes him to a happier shore......... enchanting concluding. Beautiful poem.
A slumberous silence fills the sky in the summer noon. White cloud gloats and motivates mind. Beneath the unmoving shade silent valley gazes and the poet has noticed the villages. The lovely landscape lingers for peace in a happier shore. This poem has rich imagery. This is an outstanding poem and a nice poem of the day chosen!
A well chosen Poem of the Day by the great William Cullen Bryant. Fifteen stanza's of rhyming brilliance that radiate summer for one and all.
'In early June when Earth laughs out'! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Loved the soft and gentle tone of the poem.