Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SECRET OF THE SPRING, by CARROLL RYAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SECRET OF THE SPRING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweet and still the moonlight lies
Last Line: Shall learn the secret of the spring.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll
Subject(s): Memory; Spring


Sweet and still the moonlight lies
Along the path we know so well;
Softly in the distance dies
The echo of the evening bell.

Here I stand beside the spring,
Placid in its deeps below—
Empty heart to it I bring
To fill with thoughts of long ago.

Gently dreaming here I think
That I would find De Leon's quest;
Bending o'er the spring to drink
A fabled draught to make me blest.

Pain and sorrow now are fled,
Joy and peace again are mine;
Hopes, no longer with the dead,
Return and make the world divine.

Fear of parting never more,
Oh! fountain of eternal youth,
Shall destroy the happy lore
That comes to one who knows the truth.

Here I have the precious prize
The Spaniard sought o'er land and sea;
All the glowing hilltops rise
Resplendent in their mystery.

Glorified the song of life
Shall rise from vale to mountain peak,
Men forgetting all their strife
Will here a glad contentment seek.

Like an answer to their prayer
This spot they'll hail as if t'were home,
Earth and sky will shine more fair;
No farther will they wish to roam.

Stricken hearts with sorrow bowed
May here their burden haply bring,
And, parting from the heedless crowd,
Shall learn the Secret of the Spring.





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