I would make a list against the evil days
1
Of lovely things to hold in memory:
First, I set down my lady's lovely face,
For earth has no such lovely thing as she;
And next I add, to bear her company,
5
The great-eyed virgin star that morning brings;
Then the wild-rose upon its little tree—
So runs my catalogue of lovely things.
The enchanted dog-wood, with its ivory trays,
9
The water-lily in its sanctuary
Of reeded pools, and dew-drenched lilac sprays,
For these, of all fair flowers, the fairest be;
Next write I down the great name of the sea,
13
Lonely in greatness as the names of kings;
Then the young moon that hath us all in fee—
So runs my catalogue of lovely things.
Imperial sunsets that in crimson blaze
17
Along the hills, and, fairer still to me,
The fireflies dancing in a netted maze
Woven of twilight and tranquillity;
Shakespeare and Virgil, their high poesy;
21
Then a great ship, splendid with snowy wings,
Voyaging on into eternity—
So runs my catalogue of lovely things.
Prince, not the gold bars of thy treasury,
25
Not all thy jewelled sceptres, crowns and rings,
Are worth the honeycomb of the wild bee—
So runs my catalogue of lovely things.