She lay upon a bank, the favourite haunt Of the spring wind in its first sunshine hour, For the luxuriant strawberry blossoms spread Like a snow-shower there, and violets Bow'd down their purple vases of perfum About her pillow, -- link'd in a gay band Floated fantastic shapes, these were her guards, Her lithe and rainbow elves. WE have been o'er land and sea, Seeking lovely dreams for thee, -- Where is there we have not been Gathering gifts for our sweet queen. We are come with sound and sight Fit for fairy's sleep to-night: -- First around thy couch shall sweep Odours, such as roses weep When the earliest spring rain Calls them into life again; Next upon thine ear shall float Many a low and silver note, Stolen from a dark-eyed maid, When her lover's serenade, Rising as the stars grew dim, Waken'd her from thoughts of him; -- There shall steal o'er lip and cheek Gales, but all too light to break Thy soft rest, -- such gales as hide All day orange-flowers inside, Or that, while hot noontide, dwell, In the purple hyacinth bell; And before thy sleeping eyes Shall come glorious pageantries, -- Palaces of gems and gold, Such as dazzle to behold, -- Gardens, in which every tree Seems a world of bloom to be, -- Fountains, whose clear waters show The white pearls that lie below. -- During slumber's magic reign Other times shall live again; First thou shalt be young and free In thy days of liberty, -- Then again be woo'd and won By thy stately OBERON. Or thou shalt descend to earth, And see all of mortal birth. -- No, that world's too full of care For e'en dreams to linger there. But; behold, the sun is set, And the diamond coronet Of the young moon is on high Waiting for our revelry; And the dew is on the flower, And the stars proclaim our hour; Long enough thy rest has been, Wake, TITANIA, wake, our queen! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: JOSEPH DIXON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ON THE BIRTH OF A CHILD by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE FALL; A GREAT FAVORIT BEHEADED by LUIS DE GONGORA TO WORDSWORTH by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS THE ENKINDLED SPRING by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE CITY LYRICS by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS |