An idle rhyme of the summer time,
    Sweet, and solemn, and tender;
Fair with the haze of the moon's pale rays,
    Bright with the sunset's splendour.

Summer and beauty over the lands---
    Careless hours of pleasure;
A meeting of eyes and a touching of hands---
    A change in the floating measure.

A deeper hue in the skies of blue,
    Winds from the tropics blowing;
A softer grace on the fair moon's face,
    And the summer going, going.

The leaves drift down, the green grows brown,
    And tears with smiles are blended;
A twilight hour and a treasured flower,---
    And now the poem is ended.