Animated, flashing, flame of scarlet,
Teasing, tantalizing, madcap varlet,
Glooming, glinting through the boughs,
Making, breaking lover's vows;
Dashing leader of the choir,
Standing on the topmost spire,
Scintillating song and fire,
Calls me: _Come up--come up--higher, higher, higher!_
Daytime meteor trailing light,
Like a shooting star at night--
Just a moment of delight,
Followed by a mad desire:
But the flaming flash of scarlet,
Tantalizing madcap varlet,
Hiding from my aching sight--
This time just a little nigher--
Laughing from his leafy height,
Mocks me: _Come up--come up--higher, higher, higher!_