Here's a wonderful thing, br A humming-bird's wing br In hammered gold, br And store well chosen br Of snowflakes frozen br In crystal cold. br br Black onyx cherries br And mistletoe berries br Of chrysoprase, br Jade buds, tight shut, br All carven and cut br In intricate ways. br br Here, if you please br Are little gilt bees br In amber drops br Which look like honey, br Translucent and sunny, br From clover-tops. br br Here's an elfin girl br Of mother-of-pearl br And moonshine made, br With tortise-shell hair br Both dusky and fair br In its light and shade. br br Here's lacquer laid thin, br Like a scarlet skin br On an ivory fruit; br And a filigree frost br Of frail notes lost br From a fairy lute. br br Here's a turquoise chain br Of sun-shower rain br To wear if you wish; br And glittering green br With aquamarine, br A silvery fish. br br Here are pearls all strung br On a thread among br Pretty pink shells; br And bubbles blown br From the opal stone br Which ring like bells. br br Touch them and take them, br But do not break them! br Beneath your hand br They will wither like foam br If you carry them home br Out of fairy-lannd. br br O, they never can last br Though you hide them fast br From moth and from rust; br In your monstrous day br They will crumble away br Into quicksilver dust.