The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-27
BALLATA lTALlANA
OF ALIcIA's BONNET
-By Mrs. E. Cayazza. !

BY Mrs. E. Cavazza.
Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet,
And many humming- birds were fastened on 1t.
l sat beside Alicia at the play;
Her violet eyes with tender tears Tere wet
(The diamonds in her ears less bright than they
For pity of the woes OF Juliet;
Alicia'S signs poet might have set
TO delicate music in dainty sonnet.
Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet,
And many humming-birds were fastened on II
And yet to me her graceful ready words
Sounded like linking silver bells that tangled,
For on her goldep S;ir the hummingbrds
Were fiXedSs if within a sunbeam tangled,
Ine9lf~q quick life quenched, their tiny bodies
mangled.
Poor pretty birds upon Alicia's bonnet
Last night Alicia wore Tuscan bonnet,
And many hummng-birds were fastened on it.
Caught in net of delicate creamy crepe,
The dainty eaptives lay there dead together;
No dart of slender bill, no fragile shape
Fluttering, no stir OF any radiant feather;
Alicia looked so calm, wondered whether
She cared if birds were killed to trim her bonnet
Last night Alicia wore 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 emerads can conscious life inherit,
And beryilS rise again to winged birth
Being changed to birds but not TO lesser worth
Alica'S golden head had such upon it.
Last night Alicia wore Tuscan bonnet
And many humming-birds were fastened on it,
Perhaps dreamed-the house was very still
But on sudden the Academy
OF Music seemed forest of Brazil
q Each pillar that supports the balcony
Took form and stature of tropic tree,
With scarlet odorous flowers blooming on it.
Last night Alicia wore Tuscan bonnet,
And MANY lummDy- birds were fastened on il.
A fragrance of delicious drowsy death
Was in the air; the 1.-THE lianaS clung
About the mighty tree, and birds beneath
More swift than arrows flashed and flew among
The blossoms of the perfumed poisonous
breath,
The heavy honeyed flowers that hung upon it.
Last night Alicia wore Tuscan bonnet,
And many humming-birds were fastened on it.
Like rain drops when the sun breaks up the
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 Tuscan bonnet,
And many humming-birdS were fastened on 1t.
What rapid flight! Each one a winged fame,
Burning with brilliant Joy of life and all
Delight of motion; to and fro they came,
Al endless dance, fairy festival;
Then suddenly / saw them pause and fall,
Slain only to adorn Alicias bonnet.
Last night Alicia wore Tuscan bonnet,
And many humming thirds were fastened on it.
Ny 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 fancied that stain of death,
Like that which doomed the Lady of Macbeth,
Was on her hand: could perhaps have won it?
Last night Alicia wore Tuscan bonnet,
And many hummingbirds were fastened on it.
-Harper's Bazaar.