Soft as a flash of summer light, A thrill of music sweet Breathed somewhat in the ear of Night, And died along the street. Gray Night, it said, from amorous tongue, From minstrel, and from bird, Since first thy heaven with stars was hung What carols thou hast heard! If only we could call the ghost Of each forgotten strain! If all the silver-sounding host Made melody again! If every song whose magic made Yon stars more deeply burn, Then fled and withered like a shade, Could like a shade return! I who would bid the Lovely stay, I who would bind the Fair; Even as I plead I pass away, And go I know not where. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: 71 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE TO A BUTTERFLY (1) by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH LEGENDARY LIGHTS by ALTER ABELSON ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 18. TO THE HON. FRANCIS EARL OF HUNTINGDON by MARK AKENSIDE FIRST LOVE by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS THE GODS OF THE EARTH BENEATH by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN ENCOURAGEMENT by EMILY JANE BRONTE |