An August Evening, 1865 by Carolyn Clive

Lyrics

The lightest air that ever flew Unheard across the summer's blue The lightest burthen bore on high That e'er went wingless through the sky It was a downy feather, shed From some bird's breast while past it fled; A swallow darting on its way With others and itself at play Caught in mid air the floating guest And bore it off to help her nest That's all, there's nothing more, no moral; But, reader, not for that we'll quarrel 'Twas something charming to the eye I cannot tell the how or why; But Nature is so lovely fair That every hour and every where The soul some pleasantness can gather As from the swallow and the feather