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AN OLD TUNE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is an air for which I would disown
Last Line: In some forgotten life, long time gone by.
Alternate Author Name(s): Nerval, Gerard De
Subject(s): Music & Musicians


There is an air for which I would disown
Mozart's, Rossini's, Weber's melodies, —
A sweet sad air that languishes and sighs,
And keeps its secret charm for me alone.

Whene'er I hear that music vague and old,
Two hundred years are mist that rolls away;
The thirteenth Louis reigns, and I behold
A green land golden in the dying day.

An old red castle, strong with stony towers,
The windows gay with many-colored glass,
Wide plains, and rivers flowing among flowers,
That bathe the castle basement as they pass.

In antique weed, with dark eyes and gold hair,
A lady looks forth from her window high;
It may be that I knew and found her fair,
In some forgotten life, long time gone by.





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