A breath of joy, sweet bird, A solace to each prisoner of pain, A pledge of hope returning, is thy strain Through the long watches heard. The soul in sleepless sighs, Or else in dreams, through panting hours, the prey, Hails in thy voice a prophecy of day Ere yet the darkness flies. The tender babe, new-born, The dying mother startled by its wail, The fevered brow, the cheek of madness pale, The bosom rest-forlorn, Each, with emotion strong, Heaves through the billowed agonies of night, Whilst over them, a glittering foam of light, Drifts thy unshadowed song. How vast its influence sweet! How small the voiceful compass of thy throat, Whereof each silver scintillating note A thousand blessings greet! Teach me the power divine Some light o'er dark humanity to fling, Some song of hope celestial to sing, Dear to all hearts as thine. |