I've seen this dell in July's shine As lovely as an angel's dream; Above, heaven's depth of blue divine; Around, the evening's golden beam -- I've seen the purple heather-bell Look out by many a storm-worn stone And oh, I've known such music swell, Such wild notes wake these passes lone -- So soft, yet so intensely felt, So low, yet so distinctly heard, My breath would pause, my eyes would melt And my tears dew the green heath-sward -- I'd linger here a summer day Nor care how fast the hours flew by Nor mark the sun's departing ray Smile sadly glorious from the sky -- Then, then I might have laid thee down And deemed thy sleep would gentle be I might have left thee, darling one And thought thy God was guarding thee! But now, there is no wandering glow No gleam to say that God is nigh: And coldly spreads thy couch of snow And harshly sounds thy lullaby. Forests of heather dark and long Wave their brown branching arms above And they must soothe thee with their song And they must shield my child of love! Alas the flakes are heavily falling They cover fast each guardian crest; And chilly white their shroud is palling Thy frozen limbs and freezing breast Wakes up the storm more madly wild The mountain drifts are tossed on high -- Farewell unblessed, unfriended child, I cannot bear to watch thee die! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN ARCTIC VISION [JUNE 20, 1867] by FRANCIS BRET HARTE DRESSING THE BRIDE (A FRAGMENT) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH SONNET: ENGLAND by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WALNUT-TREE OF BOARSTELL: ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BASSE TO THE MOONFLOWER by CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS MY WINDOW by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |