All In The Golden Afternoon

<br>All in the golden afternoon full leisurely we glide<br>For both our oars, with little skill, by little arms are plied<br>While little hands make vain pretence our wanderings to guide<br>Our wanderings to guide<br>Ah, cruel three! In such an hour, beneath such dreamy weather<br>To beg a tale of breath too weak to stir the tiniest feather<br>Yet what can one poor voice avail, against three tongues together<br>Against three tongues together<br>Anon, to sudden silence won, in fancy they pursue<br>The dream child moving through a land of wonders wild and new<br>In friendly chat with bird or beast--and half believe it true<br>And half believe it true<br>And ever, as the story drained the wells of fancy dry<br>And faintly strove that weary one to put the subject by<br>The next time--"It is next time" the happy voices cry!<br>The happy voices cry!<br>Thus grew the tale of wonderland, thus slowly one by one<br>Its quaint events were hammered out--and now the tale is done<br>And home we steer<br>A merry crew<br>Beneath the setting sun