LET the lays from poet-lips Shadow forth the speech of heaven, -- Let melodious airs eclipse All delight to senses given; Yet to these my notes and words Listen with your heart alone, While the Thought that best accords Makes a music of its own. Ye that in the fields of Love Feel the breath and bloom of spring, While I sing, securely rove, -- Rest in safety, while I sing. Ye that gaze with vain regret Back towards that holy ground, All the world between forget, Spirit-rocked from sound to sound. All indifference, all distrust, From old friendships pass away! Let the faces of the just Shine as in God's perfect day! Fix the faintest, fleetest, smile, E'er athwart your path has gleam'd, -- Take the charm without the wile, -- Be the Beauty all it seem'd! 'Mid the flowers you love the best, Summer pride or vernal boon -- By your favourite light caressed, Blush of eve or glow of noon, -- Blend the strains of happiest days With the voices held most dear; Children cast on weary ways! Rest in peace and pleasaunce here. Be the Future's glorious page In my tones to youth revealed; Let the ruffled brow of age With eternal calm be sealed; High as Heaven's etherial cope, Wide as Light's rejoicing ray, Thoughts of memory! Thoughts of hope! Wander, wander, while ye may. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOHN BROWN'S BODY by CHARLES SPRAGUE HALL ILLUSIONS by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON A NYMPH'S PASSION by BEN JONSON CROSSING THE PLAINS by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER TO STATECRAFT EMBALMED by MARIANNE MOORE THE LOST WAR-SLOOP by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR STILL FALLS THE RAIN; THE RAIDS, 1940. NIGHT AND DAWN by EDITH SITWELL |