Triolets

by Marguerite Alvis Venable


I had no thought except to give
Of all my little treasure:
My heart was open as a sieve;
I had no thought except to give.
It will be this while still I live
That hurts me beyond measure:
I had no thought except to give
Of all my little treasure.

I like the weeping willow tree
That droops beside the river:
Because its woe is loosed and free.
I like the weeping willow tree.
My tears are locked inside of me,
I dare not even quiver:
I like the weeping willow tree.
That droops beside the river.
    I sang a tune one April day -
    I was merry more than clever;
    Because I felt exceeding gay,
    I sang a tune on April day,
    And plucked a blooming hawthorne spray,
    And said I'd sorrow never:
    I sang a tune one April day -
    'Twas merry more than clever.
A row of apples in the sun
Makes any kitchen brighter:
Of red and green and yellow spun,
A row of apples in the sun
Will charm the eyes of anyone
And laugh a burden lighter:
A row of apples in the sun
Makes any kitchen brighter.
    When dusk comes down on softened wing
    I taste an ancient sorrow;
    The tiredest tunes of earth I sing
    When dusk comes down on softened wing.
    I'm one with every broken thing,
    I face a grey tomorrow:
    When dusk comes down on softened wing
    I taste an ancient sorrow.
I swish the suds and rinse with care,
And dry my shining glasses.
The sun is bright; the day is fair:
I swish the suds and rinse with care.
I've floors to sweep and fruit to pare,
And morning light soon passes:
I swish the suds and rinse with care
And dry my shining glasses.
    The autumn's flaming on the hill,
    I love its red and yellow.
    The colored drifts give me a thrill -
    The autumn's flaming on the hill.
    The air is crisp, the wind is chill,
    The apples growing mellow -
    The autumn's flaming on the hill:
    I love its red and yellow.
Oh, it has been a happy day,
With time for work and dreaming,
And space for music, sad and gay -
Oh, it has a been a happy day.
The sunshine had a mellow ray,
The wind was autumn-seeming.
Oh, it has been a happy day
With time for work and dreaming.


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