With a sweeter voice than birds Dare to twitter in their sleep, Pipe for me a tune of words, Till my dancing fancies leap Into freedom vaster far Than the realms of Reason are! Sing for me with wilder fire Than the lover ever sung, From the time he twanged the lyre When the world was baby-young. O my maiden Autumn, you -- You have filled me through and through With a passion so intense, All of earthly eloquence Fails, and falls, and swoons away In your presence. Like as one Who essays to look the sun Fairly in the face, I say, Though my eyes you dazzle blind Greater dazzled is my mind. So, my Autumn, let me kneel At your feet and worship you! Be my sweetheart; let me feel Your caress; and tell me too Why your smiles bewilder me -- Glancing into laughter, then Trancing into calm again, Till your meaning drowning lies In the dim depths of your eyes. Let me see the things you see Down the depths of mystery! Blow aside the hazy veil From the daylight of your face With the fragrance-ladened gale Of your spicy breath and chase Every dimple to its place. Lift your gipsy finger-tips To the roses of your lips, And fling down to me a bud -- But an unblown kiss -- but one -- It shall blossom in my blood, Even after life is done -- When I dare to touch the brow Your rare hair is veiling now -- When the rich, red-golden strands Of the treasure in my hands Shall be all of worldly worth Heaven lifted from the earth, Like a banner to have set On its highest minaret. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SHALL I SAY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON BATTLE HYMN OF THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE HURRICANE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT SECOND BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 18 by THOMAS CAMPION THE CRUEL MISTRESS by THOMAS CAREW ARCADIA: THE BARGAIN by PHILIP SIDNEY ANTIQUE JEWELER by FREDERICK HENRY HERBERT ADLER ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 18. TO THE HON. FRANCIS EARL OF HUNTINGDON by MARK AKENSIDE |