To a Butterfly

I've watched you now a full half hour,

Self-poised upon that yellow flower;

And, little butterfly, indeed

I know not if you sleep or feed.

How motionless!—not frozen seas

More motionless! and then

What joy awaits you, when the breeze

Hath found you out among the trees,

And calls you forth again!

This plot of orchard ground is ours;

My trees they are, my sister's flowers;

Here rest your wings when they are weary;

Here lodge as in a sanctuary!

Come often to us, fear no wrong;

Sit near us, on the bough!

We'll talk of sunshine and of song;

And summer days when we were young;

Sweet childish days, that were as long

As twenty days are now.