ANTHOLOGY OF MASSACHUSETTS POETS (63)

    OLD Michael Pat he said to me He saw an angel in a tree. He knew I'd never, never doubt him, For what would heaven be without them. The angel laughed for very glee And sang out loud： "Heigh！ come with me！" Old Michael felt a creeping kind Of wonder in his humble¹ mind, And, hardly knowing what to say, Ran where the angel showed the way. The lambs were running on the hills, Glad laughter echoed from the rills, And many hidden little birds Talked pleasant things in singing words. He followed up a mountain then And saw a crowd of singing men Approaching to a Crown of Light Wherein they took a fresh delight.

    He danced and sang and whooped² and crew To see the Lord of all he knew Surrounded by the living songs Of stars and men in countless³ throngs⁴, And then he died to life again, And shovelled⁵ with the strength of ten. He taught me how to say my letters, And take my hat off to my betters, And when I asked for fairy stories, He told me of angelic glories. He was a lovely farmer, he Had seen an angel in a tree.