THE sun is warm, the sky is clear, The waves are dancing fast and bright, Blue isles and snowy mountains wear The purple noon's transparent light. The winds, the birds, the ocean floods, I see the deep's untrampled floor With green and purple sea-weeds strown; I see the waves upon the shore, Like light dissolv'd in star-showers, thrown. I sit upon the sands alone, The lightning of the noon-tide ocean Is flashing round me, and a tone Arises from its measur'd motion. How sweet! did any heart now share in my emotion. Alas! I have nor hope nor health, The sage in meditation found, And walk'd with inward glory crown'd Nor fame, nor power, nor love, nor leisure. Others I see whom these surround Smiling they live, and call life pleasure;— To me that cup has been dealt in another measure. Yet now despair itself is mild, Even as the winds and waters are; I could lie down like a tired child, Which I have borne, and yet must bear, Till death, like sleep, might steal on me, My cheek grow wet, and hear the sea Some might lament that I was cold, Whom men love not-and yet regret; Shall on its stainless glory set, Will linger, though enjoy'd, like joy in memory yet. TO NIGHT. SWIFTLY walk over the western wave, Out of the misty eastern cave, Where, all the long and lone daylight, Wrap thy form in a mantle grey, Star-inwrought! Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day, Kiss her until she be wearied out, Then wander o'er city, and sea, and sand, Touching all with thine opiate wand Come, long-sought! When I arose and saw the Dawn, I sigh'd for thee; When light rode high, and the dew was gone, And noon lay heavy on flower and tree, I sigh'd for thee. Thy brother Death came, and cried, Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Death will come when thou art dead, Soon, too soon- Sleep will come when thou art fled: SPRING. O SPRING! of hope, and love, and youth, and gladness, |