In the heart of the garden the merry bird chants, It would fall to the ground if you came in. With a low melodious thunder; And in her raiment's hem was traced in It springs on a level of bowery lawn, And the mountain draws it from Heaven flame WISDOM, a name to shake above, All evil dreams of power—a sacred name. And it sings a song of undying love ; Her words did gather thunder as they ran, And as the lightning to the thunder Which follows it, riving the spirit of man, Making earth wonder, So was their meaning to her words. No sword Of wrath her right arm whirl'd, But one poor poet's scroll, and with his word She shook the world. THE POET'S MIND. I. VEX not thou the poet's mind For thou canst not fathom it. Clear and bright it should be ever, Flowing like a crystal river; Bright as light, and clear as wind. II. Dark-brow'd sophist, come not anear; Holy water will I pour Of the laurel-shrubs that hedge it around. So keep where you are: you are foul with sin; It would shrink to the earth if you came in. THE SEA-FAIRIES. SLOW sail'd the weary mariners and saw, Betwixt the green brink and the running foam, Sweet faces, rounded arms, and bosoms prest To little harps of gold; and while they mused, Whispering to each other half in fear, Shrill music reach'd them on the middle sea. Whither away, whither away, whither away? fly no more. Whither away from the high green field, and the happy blossoming shore? Day and night to the billow the fountain calls; Down shower the gambolling waterfalls From wandering over the lea: Out of the live-green heart of the dells They freshen the silvery-crimson shells, And thick with white bells the clover-hill swells High over the full-toned sea : When the sharp clear twang of the golden chords Runs up the ridged sea. Hither, come hither and frolic and play; | O listen, listen, your eyes shall glisten And the rainbow forms and flies on the land Over the islands free; And the rainbow lives in the curve of the sand; Hither, come hither and see; Who can light on as happy a shore THE DESERTED HOUSE. I. And the rainbow hangs on the poising LIFE and Thought have gone away wave, And sweet is the color of cove and O listen, listen, your eyes shall glisten Side by side, Leaving door and windows wide: Careless tenants they! II. All within is dark as night: Rain makes music in the tree V. Round thee blow, self-pleached deep, These in every shower creep VI. The gold-eyed kingcups fine; Kings have no such couch as thine, VII. Wild words wander here and there: The balm-cricket carols clear LOVE AND DEATH. WHAT time the mighty moon was gathering light Love paced the thymy plots of Paradise, And all about him roll'd his lustrous eyes; When, turning round a cassia, full in view Death, walking all alone beneath a yew, And talking to himself, first met his sight: "You must begone," said Death, "these walks are mine." Love wept and spread his sheeny vans for flight; Yet ere he parted said, "This hour is thine: Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree Stands in the sun and shadows all beneath, But I shall reign for ever over all." Oh! deathful stabs were dealt apace, The battle deepen'd in its place, Oriana; But I was down upon my face, Oriana. CIRCUMSTANCE. Two children in two neighbor villages Playing mad pranks along the heathy leas; Two strangers meeting at a festival; They should have stabb'd me where I lay, Two lovers whispering by an orchard wall; Oriana! Two lives bound fast in one with golden I would kiss them often under the sea, And kiss them again till they kiss'd me Laughingly, laughingly; And then we would wander away, away To the pale-green sea-groves straight and high, Chasing each other merrily. III. There would be neither moon nor star; But the wave would make music above us afar Low thunder and light in the magic night |