Alicia's Bonnet

Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. I sat beside Alicia at the play; Her violet eyes with tender tears were wet (The diamonds in her ears less bright than they) For pity of the woes of Juliet: Alicia’s sighs a poet might have set To delicate music in a dainty sonnet. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. And yet to me her graceful ready words Sounded like tinkling silver bells that jangled, For on her golden hair the humming-birds Were fixed as if within a sunbeam tangled, Their quick life quenched, their tiny bodies mangled, Poor pretty birds upon Alicia’s bonnet. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. Caught in a net of delicate creamy crêpe, The dainty captives lay there dead together; No dart of slender bill, no fragile shape Fluttering, no stir of any radiant feather: Alicia looked so calm, I wondered whether She cared if birds were killed to trim her bonnet. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. If rubies and if sapphires have a spirit, Though deep they lie below the weight of earth, If emeralds can a conscious life inherit And beryls rise again to wingëd birth— Being changed to birds but not to lesser worth— Alicia’s golden head had such upon it. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. Perhaps I dreamed—the house was very still— But on a sudden the Academy Of Music seemed a forest of Brazil, Each pillar that supports the balcony Took form and stature of a tropic tree With scarlet odorous flowers blooming on it. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. A fragrance of delicious drowsy death Was in the air; the lithe lianas clung About the mighty tree, and birds beneath More swift than arrows flashed and flew among The perfumed poisonous blossoms as they swung, The heavy-honeyed flowers that hung upon it. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. Like rain-drops when the sun breaks up the shower, Or weavers’ shuttles carrying golden thread, Or flying petals of a wind-blown flower, Myriads of humming-birds flew overhead— Purple and gold and green and blue and red— Above each scarlet cup, or poised upon it. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. What rapid flight! Each one a wingëd flame, Burning with brilliant joy of life and all Delight of motion; to and fro they came, An endless dance, a fairy festival; Then suddenly I saw them pause and fall, Slain only to adorn Alicia’s bonnet. Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it. My mind came back from the Brazilian land; For, as a snowflake falls to earth beneath, Alicia’s hand fell lightly on my hand; And yet I fancied that a stain of death, Like that which doomed the lady of Macbeth, Was on her hand: could I perhaps have won it? Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it.