I'VE learned, in dream or legend dark, That all love-letters purged with fire, Drawn in one constellated spark, To heaven aspire. To-night there streams across the sky An unfamiliar reef of stars; Are those the letters you and I Thrust through the bars? In tears of joy they once were read, In tears of suffering slowly burned; And now to stars hung overhead Can each be turned? O leaves too warm to be discreet, O panting words that throbbed too loud With starry laughter now you meet Behind a cloud! You watch us sleeping all night long, Until gray morning bids you fade; You charge us, with your choral song, Be undismayed! Alas! the Magians knew your names, Ye ancient lamps of amber light; 'Tis vanity of passion claims So rare delight. We might as well lay claim to Mars! -- And yet -- I surely understand That softest yellow flashing star's Italian hand? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NURSE'S SONG, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE FIRST DAY: THE LEGEND OF RABBI BEN LEVY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE ARROW AND THE SONG by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW COMPOSED UPON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, SEPTEMBER 3, 1802 by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH WHERE SHALL I DIE? by MARIA ABDY SUNSET ACROSS THE LAKE by AUGUSTA M. BARNEY |