I HEARD the music of the wave, As it rippled to the shore; And saw the willow branches lave, As light winds swept them o'er; The music of the golden bow, That did the torrent span; But I heard a sweeter music flow From the youthful heart of man, The wave rushed on; the hues of heaven Fainter and fainter grew; And deeper melodies were given As swift the changes flew: Then came a shadow on my sight, The golden bow was dim: And he that laugh'd beneath its light, What was the change to him? I saw him not; only a throng Like the swell of troubled ocean, Rising, sinking, swept along In the tempest's wild commotion: Sleeping, dreaming, waking then, Chains to link or sever; Turning to the dream again, Fain to clasp it ever. There was a rush upon my brain, A darkness on mine eye; And when I turn'd to gaze again The mingled forms were nigh; In shadowy mass a mighty hall Rose on the fitful scene; Flowers, music, gems were flung o'er all, Not such as once had been. Then in its mist, far, far away, A phantom seemed to be; The something of a gone-by day, But oh, how changed was he! He rose beside the festal board, Where sat the merry throng; And as the purple juice he pour'd Thus woke his wassail song -- | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LINES ON OBSERVING A BLOSSOM [ON THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY 1796] by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A MOTHER TO HER SICK CHILD by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES A FAREWELL TO TOBACCO by CHARLES LAMB THE DONG WITH A LUMINOUS NOSE by EDWARD LEAR THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS THE LAST SUPPER by RAINER MARIA RILKE THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 71. THE CHOICE (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |