Editing The West Wind, James Staunton Babcock

''The West Wind'' by James Staunton Babcock<ref>James Staunton Babcock, ''Visions and Voices'', American Antiquarian Society Collections, 1849. [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Visions_and_Voices/1xA_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 Google Books]</ref> is a poem frequently cited for its first use of the phrase "sweet summer child":

<blockquote>
Thou comest, summer breeze,<br/>
With life and music on the air;<br/>
I trace thee thro' those tossing trees,<br/>
But where's thy dwelling—where?<br/>

Yon green maize slowly swings<br/>
To thee, and wide o'ershadowing come <br/>
The clouds, on gray and silver wings,
But neither is thy home.<br/>

Thou walk'st the dreaming lake,<br/>
And its dappled skies in bright rings flee,
Like tinkling coins the shore-waves break,
But they're no lodge for thee.<br/>

Go, visit the sick man pale,<br/>
And fan his fevered brain asleep,<br/>
Then haste and lift yon flagging sail<br/>
Along the weltering deep.<br/>

Go, kiss that flower-girl fair,<br/>
And blow her ringlets lovingly,<br/>
And suck her posies fresh, and bear<br/>
A sweeter balm to me.<br/>

Go to the window-sill<br/>
And softly touch the Æolian lyre,<br/>
Dwell o'er its plaintive chords, and thrill
My soul's with subtle fire.<br/>

Then wander where it please,<br/>
Thro' field, or dale or shady west;<br/>
The brooks and birds and humming bees<br/>
Will lull me soon to rest.<br/>

Blow thou at dawning light,<br/>
Blue noon, or ruddy evening by, <br/>
Or rove the starry woods at night— <br/>
Thou goest a mystery. <br/>

Yet gives yon glorious fire,<br/>
Mild wind, thy gentle being birth,<br/>
On wings of love that never tire,<br/>
Heaven's messenger to earth.<br/>

Thy home is all around,<br/>
Sweet summer child of light and air,<br/>
Like God's own presence, felt, ne'er found,<br/>
A Spirit everywhere!<br/>
</blockquote>

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