A twangling harp for Mary, A silvery flute for John, And now we'll play the livelong day, 'The Miller and his Son.'. . . 'The Miller went a-walking All in the forest high, He sees three doves a-flitting Against the dark blue sky: 'Says he, "My son, now follow These doves so white and free, That cry above the forest, And surely cry to thee." "'I go, my dearest Father, But Oh! I sadly fear, These doves so white will lead me far, But never bring me near." 'He kisses the Miller, He cries, "Awhoop to ye!" And straightway through the forest Follows the wood-doves three. 'There came a sound of weeping To the Miller in his Mill; Red roses in a thicket Bloomed over near his wheel; 'Three stars shone wild and brightly Above the forest dim: But never his dearest son Returns again to him. 'The cuckoo shall call "Cuckoo!" In vain along the vale, The linnet, and the blackbird, The mournful nightingale; 'The Miller hears and sees not, He's thinking of his son; His toppling wheel is silent; His grinding done. "'O doves so white!" he weepeth, "O roses on the tree! O stars that shine so brightly -- You shine in vain for me! "'I bade him, 'Follow, follow'; He said, 'O Father dear, These doves so white will lead me far But never bring me near!'"'. . . A twangling harp for Mary, A silvery flute for John, And now we'll play the livelong day, 'The Miller and his Son.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLUE AND THE GRAY by FRANCIS MILES FINCH INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF MY UNCLE ARLY by EDWARD LEAR INTO THE TWILIGHT by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SATIRE: 2 by AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS DEATH'S JEST-BOOK by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES SHEMA-YISRAEL-ADONAI-ELOHENU ADONAI-ECHOD by NATHAN BERNSTEIN IRELAND'S VENGEANCE by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |