The Shower Sylph

Gentlest of the storm-king's train,
Genius of the Summer Rain, 
Earth and heaven are my domain;
Earth, that gladdens at my kiss, 
Heaven, that deepens its abyss 
Of pale sapphire, far between 
My dissolving banners seen;
Earth and heaven, to darkness given, 
When my measureless wings expand 
Over boundless sky and land.

Genius of the Summer Rain, 
Tapping at your window-pane, 
Dropping opals in the core 
Of white lilies at your door, 
Hanging gems to emerald made 
By the green leaf's deeper shade, 
Which, anon, the magic sun 
Turns to diamond, every one;
In the nooning's mellow hum, 
With a murmurous hush I come, 
And you hear the rapid beat 
Of my fairies' million feet, 
Brushing the unbending grass
As they pass!
                                        As they pass,
Every fairy shaker a gem 
From his twinkling diadem, 
And the rustle of their fall 
Makes the whole air musical! 
"Tis my boon, when the noon, 
Waking from a sultry swoon, 
Gasps to catch delicious wafts
From my gray wings, in deep draughts 
Of revivifying air.
In my care earth grows fair, 
And the sky to splendor blooms, 
When the setting sun illumes, 
With his molten gold, my plumes;
And the radiant angels, seven, 
Of the bannered hues of heaven, 
Weave in light the rhythmic arch 
That betrays their measured march;
Then my nimble frolic fays, 
Plunging, snatch those iris rays 
Down the storm-gulf, till below 
Gleams another, paler bow.

With her baby buds at play, 
Mellowing all the heart of May;
Rocking in the rose of June, 
To my own shower's liquid tune;
Laving the hot dust of torrid
Toil from July's burning forehead;
Dancing down the August sky, 
Deepening its ethereal dye,
While my cymar's streaming lace 
Veils, to show the sun's bright face;
Genius of the Summer Rain, 
See me! gladdening sky and plain!
Me, the sylph of sunlit showers, 
Jewelling the world with flowers.