Light falls the rain-drop on the fallen leaf,
And light o'er harvest-plain and garnered sheaf —
But lightlier falls the touch of loving hands.
Light falls the dusk of mild midsummer night,
And light the first star's faltering lance of light
On glimmering lawns,— but lightlier loving hands.
And light the feathery flake of early snows,
Or wisp of thistle-down that no wind blows,
And light the dew,— but lightlier loving hands.
Light-falling dusk, or dew, or summer rain,
Or down of snow or thistle — all are vain,—
Far lightlier falls the touch of loving hands.