THE swallows come on swift and daring wings, Their daring wings to dip with pure delight In the mild pond: once more the kind fate brings My heart that moment, and the world is bright. The lilies there, the white ones and the red, From the green cloudy deeps look up to heaven, And antique holm-oaks sheltering their calm bed Seem blessing Earth for such sweet duty given. Look, how that old man, face like parchment tanned, Wrinkled, mouth-shrivelled, silently is come To the high bank, a bucket in his hand -- He beats upon it as it were a drum: He beats a solemn summoning monotone, And through the secrecies that under shroud, The water-shapes steal towards his gonging drone, The lonelinesses gather in a crowd. Moon-pallid some come gliding through the green, Great fishes, yet for phantoms passing well; Others like opals rosy-rayed convene, Jewels of June waters, to that simple bell; Dark as barbaric dreams, there others swim, And now to that old labourer's wish a host Of splendours circle mingling, to the brim Fanning and fawning, flame and dream and ghost. Would that I might by means as plain as this Bring many a mystery from life's shadowy pool, Enchant the live gems from the unknown abyss, And make them seen, the strangely beautiful. What measured syllables must I resound, Oh, what most simple and most secret spell For hidden fancies waits there to be found? Who knows that incantation, and will tell? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: INSCRIPTION FOR A PORTRAIT OF DANTE by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO VAIN TEARS, FR. THE QUEEN OF CORINTH by JOHN FLETCHER ART ABOVE NATURE: TO JULIA by ROBERT HERRICK A VISION UPON [THIS CONCEIT] OF THE FAERIE QUEENE (1) by WALTER RALEIGH LACHRYMAE MUSARUM (THE DEATH OF TENNYSON) by WILLIAM WATSON WHISPERS OF HEAVENLY DEATH by WALT WHITMAN |