From Cocoon forth a Butterfly

From Cocoon forth a Butterfly As Lady from her Door Emerged -- a Summer Afternoon -- Repairing Everywhere --

Without Design -- that I could trace Except to stray abroad On Miscellaneous Enterprise The Clovers -- understood --

Her pretty Parasol be seen Contracting in a Field Where Men made Hay -- Then struggling hard With an opposing Cloud --

Where Parties -- Phantom as Herself -- To Nowhere -- seemed to go In purposeless Circumference -- As 'twere a Tropic Show --

And notwithstanding Bee -- that worked -- And Flower -- that zealous blew -- This Audience of Idleness Disdained them, from the Sky --

Till Sundown crept -- a steady Tide -- And Men that made the Hay -- And Afternoon -- and Butterfly -- Extinguished -- in the Sea --