O those sweet notes, so soft and faint; that seemed Locked up inside a thick walled house of stone; And then that sudden rush of sound, as though The doors and windows were wide-open thrown. Do with me, O sweet music, as thou wilt, I am thy slave to either laugh or weep; Thy power can make thy slave a lover proud, Or friendless man that has no place to sleep. I hear thy gentle whisper and again Hear ripples lap the quays of sheltered docks; I hear thy thunder and it brings to mind Dark Colorado scaling his huge rocks. I hear thy joyous cries and think of birds Delirious when the sun doth rise in May; I hear thy moans and think me of poor cows That miss at night the calves they licked by day. I hear thee wail and think of that sad queen Who saw her lover's disappearing mast; How she, who drank and wasted a rich pearl -- To prove her love -- was left to wail at last. Do with me, O sweet Music, as thou wilt; Till even thou art robbed by jealous Sleep Of those sweet senses thou hast forced from me -- And I can neither laugh with thee nor weep. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN KEATS' DEATH by SARA TEASDALE INSCRIPTION FOR A FOUNTAIN ON A HEATH by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE VOYAGE by CAROLINE ATHERTON BRIGGS MASON MY LITTLE GARDEN by GWENDOLEN ALLEN |