A Spirit of Nature

From the earth a meteor flies, And a shadow of the sky— Like a blaze of light that dies On the hill-tops near and nigh. ‘Tis the summer day of cheer, When the sun does brightly glow; At the last I find it clear, ‘Twas a spirit of the snow.

Oh, my heart is light and free, And my soul on wings of air! In the dappled light I see Rare creations everywhere. The sunbeams drown the meads, While in shadows soft I roam, Thinks I, Where no herdsman leads, There alone I have my home.

• John Burroughs