The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse
Sunrise in SummerWilliam Edward Marshall (18591923)
I
For fairies, nature sleeps in dreamy calm.
A light as gentle as ethereal balm,
In misty rapture plays about her face;
The eager waiting winds forget to sigh,
And from her love-expectant lips inhale
The breath of roses; and the stars grow pale,
As the red-flushing ardent dawn draws nigh,
With softest step, to steal a tender kiss.
The beauty dreamer stirs; the airy way
Is lit with spears of gold, and forward press
In haste the splendid chivalry of day.
With trumpet and with song the echoes ring:
All nature is awake, and greets her King.