GREEN spot of holy ground! If thou couldst yet be found, Far in deep woods, with all thy starry flowers; If not one sullying breath Of time, or change, or death, Had touched the vernal glory of thy bowers; Might our tired pilgrim-feet, Worn by the desert's heat, On the bright freshness of thy turf repose? Might our eyes wander there Through heaven's transparent air, And rest on colours of the immortal rose? Say, would thy balmy skies And fountain melodies Our heritage of lost delight restore? Could thy soft honey-dews Through all our veins diffuse The early, childlike, trustful sleep once more? And might we, in the shade By thy tall cedars made, With angel-voices high communion hold? Would their sweet, solemn tone Give back the music gone, Our Being's harmony, so jarred of old? Oh no! -- thy sunny hours Might come with blossom-showers, All thy young leaves to spirit-lyres might thrill; But @3we@1 -- should we not bring Into thy realms of spring The shadows of our souls to haunt us still? What could @3thy@1 flowers and airs Do for our earth-born cares? Would the world's chain melt off and leave us free? No! -- past each living stream, Still would some fever-dream Track the lorn wanderers, meet no more for thee! Should we not shrink with fear If angel-steps were near, Feeling our burdened souls within us die? How might our passions brook The still and searching look, The starlike glance of seraph purity? Thy golden-fruited grove Was not for pining love; Vain sadness would but dim thy crystal skies! Oh! @3thou@1 wert but a part Of what man's exiled heart Hath lost -- the dower of @3inborn@1 Paradise! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: MRS. MERRITT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE CHARGE OF THE BREAD BRIGADE by EZRA POUND IN THE HOME STRETCH by ROBERT FROST LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER; A PARAPHRASE OF THE 102ND PSALM by JOHN CLARE YOUTH AND AGE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |