THERE were thick leaves above me and around, And low sweet sighs like those of childhood's sleep, Amidst their dimness, and a fitful sound As of soft showers on water; dark and deep Lay the oak shadows o'er the turf, so still They seemed but pictured glooms; a hidden rill Made music, such as haunts us in a dream, Under the fern-tufts; and a tender gleam Of a soft green light, as by the glow-worm shed, Came pouring through the woven beech-boughs down And steeped the magic page wherein I read Of royal chivalry and old renown, A tale of Palestine. Meanwhile the bee Swept past me with a tone of summer hours -- A drowsy bugle, wafting thoughts of flowers, Blue skies, and amber sunshine: brightly free, On filmy wings, the purple dragon-fly Shot glancing like a fairy javelin by; And a sweet voice of sorrow told the dell Where sat the lone wood-pigeon. But ere long, All sense of these things faded, as the spell Breathing from that high gorgeous tale grew strong On my chained soul. 'Twas not the leaves I heard; -- A Syrian wind the lion-banner stirred, Through its proud floating folds. 'Twas not the brook Singing in secret through its glassy glen; -- A wild shrill trumpet of the Saracen Pealed from the desert's lonely heart, and shook The burning air. Like clouds when winds are high, O'er glittering sands flew steeds of Araby, And tents rose up, and sudden lance and spear Flashed where a fountain's diamond wave lay clear, Shadowed by graceful palm-trees. Then the shout Of merry England's joy swelled freely out, Sent through an eastern heaven, whose glorious hue Made shields dark mirrors to its depths of blue: And harps were there -- I heard their sounding strings As the waste echoed to the mirth of kings. The bright mask faded. Unto life's worn track, What called me from its flood of glory back? A voice of happy childhood! -- and they passed, Banner, and harp, and Paynim's trumpet's blast. Yet might I scarce bewail the splendors gone, My heart so leaped to that sweet laughter's tone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR LOVE'S SAKE, KISS ME ONCE AGAIN! by BEN JONSON LOVE-LILY by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI TO NIGHT by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE CHARWOMAN by GEORGE LAWRENCE ANDREWS THE PROFESSION OF FLATTERY by ANTIPHANES CRYING, 'THALASSUS!' by JOSEPH AUSLANDER SPIRITUAL WORSHIP by BERNARD BARTON STANZAS SELECTED FROM THE PAINS OR MEMORY; A FRAGMENT by BERNARD BARTON IN A LETTER TO A.R.C. ON HER WISHING TO BE CALLED ANNA by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS |