Many a fountain cool and shady May the traveller's eye invite; One among them all, sweet Lady, Seems to flow for his delight; In many a tree the wilding bee Might safely hide her honey'd store; One hive alone the bee will own, She may not trust her sweets to more. Say'st thou, "Can that maid be fairer? Shows her lip a livelier dye? Hath she treasures richer, rarer? Can she better love than I?" -- What form'd the spell I ne'er could tell, But subtle must its working be, Since, from the hour I felt its pow'r, No fairer face I wish to see. Light-wing'd Zephyr, ere he settles On the loveliest flower that blows, Never stays to count thy petals, Dear, delicious, fragrant Rose! Her features bright elude my sight, I know not how her tresses lie; In fancy's maze my spirit plays, When she with all her charms is night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SUMMER EVENING'S MEDITATION by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD TO AN UNBORN PAUPER CHILD by THOMAS HARDY I AM THE PEOPLE, THE MOB by CARL SANDBURG ACHRONOS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN MYSTERY by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY I SOMETIMES ENVY by BEULA CHAMBERLAIN THE BALLAD OF ST. BARBARA by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON |