The Orchard Lands Of Long Ago

The orchard lands of Long Ago!     O drowsy winds, awake, and blow     The snowy blossoms back to me,     And all the buds that used to be!     Blow back along the grassy ways     Of truant feet, and lift the haze     Of happy summer from the trees     That trail their tresses in the seas     Of grain that float and overflow     The orchard lands of Long Ago!     Blow back the melody that slips     In lazy laughter from the lips     That marvel much if any kiss     Is sweeter than the apple's is.     Blow back the twitter of the birds -     The lisp, the titter, and the words     Of merriment that found the shine     Of summer-time a glorious wine     That drenched the leaves that loved it so,     In orchard lands of Long Ago!     O memory! alight and sing     Where rosy-bellied pippins cling,     And golden russets glint and gleam,     As, in the old Arabian dream,     The fruits of that enchanted tree     The glad Aladdin robbed for me!     And, drowsy winds, awake and fan     My blood as when it overran     A heart ripe as the apples grow     In orchard lands of Long Ago!