I LOVED her in my innocent contemplation, I felt before the need her consolation; Where green-enshrined the spring-well tinkled down I drank sweet music; the soft shadow brown Of hazelled purlieus by deer-pastures made My fancy's ambush. Down in the lawny glade (Hope more than guessed) white sylvandom was dancing, The wind-waved bough betrayed the wild sylph glancing. Then pleased I thought, this country, mother of grace, Was in her sons most fortunate. Every place Half-shadowed, half-disclosed such consonant cares, One would not haggle which were hers, which theirs: The church was brother to the chestnut-trees, The mossed bridge clasped his singing bride, gay Teise! From every wall some golden blossom sprang, Bells, tree-tops, rain and wind in one peal rang. Thrilled and translucent with this ripe concent I honoured her, but infant truth was pent In wordless shell, the image of a bird Waiting the sun-shaft and the magic word. And on a day it chanced I found, beside A window where the bee in the tea-rose plied, Old versemen; honour's wise unjealous Muse Woke me at last -- now not an hour to lose! These sang my song, fresh as the garden air That fluttered the dear pages, then and there; From @3Grongar Hill@1 the thrush and flute awoke, And Green's mild sibyl chanted from her oak, Along the vale sang Collins' hamlet bell, And Chatterton's ribibles dinned in the dell; While changing @3Seasons@1 hymned one changless Form, And the rainbow worshipped with the thunderstorm. O Nature, maker, mother! what deep joy Thus made a wild harp of a sauntering boy! O honour, how enthroned by Nature's men! I hailed, and listening loved and loved again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO HIS FORSAKEN MISTRESS by ROBERT AYTON THE RIVULET by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT A MOMENT by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE THE BATTLE OF NASEBY by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY THESE ENDURE by MARION H. ADDINGTON BLACKMWORE MAIDENS by WILLIAM BARNES |