MUSKOKA br br A stream of tender gladness, br Of filmy sun, and opal tinted skies; br Of warm midsummer air that lightly lies br In mystic rings, br Where softly swings br The music of a thousand wings br That almost tones to sadness. br br Midway 'twixt earth and heaven, br A bubble in the pearly air, I seem br To float upon the sapphire floor, a dream br Of clouds of snow, br Above, below, br Drift with my drifting, dim and slow, br As twilight drifts to even. br br The little fern-leaf, bending br Upon the brink, its green reflection greets, br And kisses soft the shadow that it meets br With touch so fine, br The border line br The keenest vision can't define; br So perfect is the blending. br br The far, fir trees that cover br The brownish hills with needles green and gold, br The arching elms o'erhead, vinegrown and old, br Repictured are br Beneath me far, br Where not a ripple moves to mar br Shades underneath, or over. br br Mine is the undertone; br The beauty, strength, and power of the land br Will never stir or bend at my command; br But all the shade br Is marred or made, br If I but dip my paddle blade; br And it is mine alone. br br O! pathless world of seeming! br O! pathless life of mine whose deep ideal br Is more my own than ever was the real. br For others Fame br And Love's red flame, br And yellow gold: I only claim br The shadows and the dreaming.