LONG hath she slept, forgetful of delight: At last, at last, the enchanted princess, Earth, Claimed with a kiss by Spring the adventurer, In slumber knows the destined lips, and thrilled Through all the deeps of her unageing heart With passionate necessity of joy, Wakens, and yields her loveliness to love. O ancient streams, O far-descended woods Full of the fluttering of melodious souls; O hills and valleys that adorn yourselves In solemn jubilation; winds and clouds, Ocean and land in stormy nuptials clasped, And all exuberant creatures that acclaim The Earth's divine renewal: lo, I too With yours would mingle somewhat of glad song. I too have come through wintry terrors, -- yea, Through tempest and through cataclysm of soul Have come, and am delivered. Me the Spring, Me also, dimly with new life hath touched, And with regenerate hope, the salt of life; And I would dedicate these thankful tears To whatsoever Power beneficent, Veiled though his countenance, undivulged his thought, Hath led me from the haunted darkness forth Into the gracious air and vernal morn, And suffers me to know my spirit a note Of this great chorus, one with bird and stream And voiceful mountain, -- nay, a string, how jarred And all but broken! of that lyre of life Whereon himself, the master harp-player, Resolving all its mortal dissonance To one immortal and most perfect strain, Harps without pause, building with song the world. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: LUCINDA MATLOCK by EDGAR LEE MASTERS LAMENT OF THE MASTER ERSKINE by ALEXANDER SCOTT (1520-1590) THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: OCTOBER by EDMUND SPENSER ADLESTROP by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS ON SEEING THE SUN SHINE ... MY WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE YEAR by LUCY AIKEN THE ANCIENT THREE by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE THE OLD MAN'S FUNERAL by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT OLD AND NEW; THE CENTURY ASSOCIATION, 1847-1897 by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER |