Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By Elisabeth (Cabazza)Pullen1234 Alicias Bonnet
L
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Her violet eyes with tender tears were wet
(The diamonds in her ears less bright than they)
For pity of the woes of Juliet:
Alicia’s sighs a poet might have set
To delicate music in a dainty sonnet.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Sounded like tinkling silver bells that jangled,
For on her golden hair the humming-birds
Were fixed as if within a sunbeam tangled,
Their quick life quenched, their tiny bodies mangled,
Poor pretty birds upon Alicia’s bonnet.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
The dainty captives lay there dead together;
No dart of slender bill, no fragile shape
Fluttering, no stir of any radiant feather:
Alicia looked so calm, I wondered whether
She cared if birds were killed to trim her bonnet.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Though deep they lie below the weight of earth,
If emeralds can a conscious life inherit
And beryls rise again to wingëd birth—
Being changed to birds but not to lesser worth—
Alicia’s golden head had such upon it.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
But on a sudden the Academy
Of Music seemed a forest of Brazil,
Each pillar that supports the balcony
Took form and stature of a tropic tree
With scarlet odorous flowers blooming on it.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Was in the air; the lithe lianas clung
About the mighty tree, and birds beneath
More swift than arrows flashed and flew among
The perfumed poisonous blossoms as they swung,
The heavy-honeyed flowers that hung upon it.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Or weavers’ shuttles carrying golden thread,
Or flying petals of a wind-blown flower,
Myriads of humming-birds flew overhead—
Purple and gold and green and blue and red—
Above each scarlet cup, or poised upon it.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Burning with brilliant joy of life and all
Delight of motion; to and fro they came,
An endless dance, a fairy festival;
Then suddenly I saw them pause and fall,
Slain only to adorn Alicia’s bonnet.
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
For, as a snowflake falls to earth beneath,
Alicia’s hand fell lightly on my hand;
And yet I fancied that a stain of death,
Like that which doomed the lady of Macbeth,
Was on her hand: could I perhaps have won it?
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.