A DEEP-TONED lyre hung murmuring To the wild wind of the sea: "O melancholy wind," it sighed, "What would thy breath with me? "Thou canst not wake the spirit That in me slumbering lies, Thou strikest not forth th' electric fire Of buried melodies. "Wind of the dark sea-waters! Thou dost but sweep my strings Into wild gusts of mournfulness, With the rushing of thy wings. "But the spell -- the gift -- the lightning -- Within my frame concealed, Must I moulder on the rock away, With their triumphs unrevealed? "I have power, high power, for freedom To wake the burning soul! I have sounds that through the ancient Like a torrent's voice might roll. "I have pealing notes of victory That might welcome kings from war; I have rich deep tones to send the wail For a hero's death afar. "I have chords to lift the paean From the temple to the sky, Full as the forest-unisons When sweeping winds are high. "And Love -- for Love's lone sorrow I have accents that might swell Through the summer air with the rose's Or the violet's faint farewell: [breath, "Soft -- spiritual -- mournful -- Sighs in each note enshrined -- But who shall call that sweetness forth? @3Thou@1 canst not, ocean-wind! "I pass without my glory, Forgotten I decay -- Where is the touch to give me life? -- Wild, fitful wind, away!" So sighed the broken music That in gladness had no part -- How like art thou, neglected lyre, To many a human heart! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVER'S MESSAGE; SONG by JOHN DRYDEN THE COUNTRY FAITH by NORMAN ROWLAND GALE THE FALLOW DEER AT THE LONELY HOUSE by THOMAS HARDY AN ALPINE DESCENT by SAMUEL ROGERS AUSTERITY OF POETRY by MATTHEW ARNOLD |