A June Night

The moon is a vampire to-night. She has sucked from the stars 
Their splendour of silver: they lean to us weary and white 
Like prisoners' faces pressed pale against window bars, 
And the wind is full of whispering dust to-night. 

The roads are spread thickly with velvet that no one may hear 
Coming or going of June: shattered topaz and pearl 
Of the chestnuts are shed underfoot, and disappear 
In dust that follows men's feet and the wheels that whirl. 

There's a ghost by the hedge that by day is a blossoming elder: 
A dusty and breathless scent is blown down to me 
Out of the laurustinus. The sun smitten guelder 
Drops her last snowball, and droops as a barren tree.