The Best of Ruskin Bond Part 24

Your feet, laved with dew,

Stood firm on the quickening gra.s.s.

There was a b.u.t.terfly between us:

Red and gold its wings

And heavy with dew.

It could not move because of the weight of moisture.

And as your foot came nearer

And I saw that you would crush it,

I said: 'Stay. It has only a few days

In the sun, and we have many.'

'And if I spare it,' you said, laughing,

'What will you do for me, what will you pay?'

'Why, anything you say.'

'And will you kiss my foot?'

'Both feet,' I said; and did so happily.

For they were no less than the wings of b.u.t.terflies.

3.

All night our love.

Stole sleep from dusty eyes.

What dreams were lost, I'll never know.

It seemed the world's last night had come

And there would never be a dawn.

Your touch soon swept the panting dark away-

Some suns are brighter by night than day!

4.

Your eyes, glad and wondering,

Dwelt in mine,

And all that stood between us

Was a blade of gra.s.s

Shivering slightly

In the breath from our lips.

But gra.s.s will bend.

We turn and kiss,

And the world swings round,

The sky spins, the trees go hush

Hush, the mountain sings-