Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG OF A WOOD NYMPH by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS

Poet Analysis

First Line: IN PEACEFUL DELLS AND WOODLAND GLADES
Last Line: THE SWEET RETIREMENT OF THE GROT.
IN peaceful dells and woodland glades,
In sweet romantic scenes I stray;
And wander through the sylvan shades,
Where summer breezes lightly play;
There at fervid noon I lave,
In the calm pellucid wave.

And oft the fairest flowers I bring,
To deck my grotto's mossy seat,
Culled from the margin of the spring,
That flows amidst the green retreat;
The violet, and the primrose pale,
That smile uncultured in the vale.

Reclined beneath some hoary trees
With tufted moss and ivy drest,
I listen to the humming bee,
Whose plaintive tune invites to rest;
While the fountain calm and clear,
Softly murmurs playing near.

And oft in solitude I rove,
To hear the bird of eve complain;
When seated in the hallowed grove,
She pours her melancholy strain,
In soothing tones that wake the tear,
To sorrow and to fancy dear.

I love the placid moonlight hour,
The lustre of the shadowy ray;
'Tis then I seek the dewy bower,
And tune the wild expressive lay;
While echo from the woods around,
Prolongs the softly dying sound.

And oft, in some arcadian vale,
I touch my harp of mellow note;
Then sweetly rising on the gale,
I hear celestial music float;
And dulcet measures faintly close,
Till all is silence and repose.

Then fays and fairy elves advance,
To hear the magic of my song;
And mingle in the sportive dance,
And trip with sylphid grace along;
While the pensive ray serene,
Trembles through the foliage green.

In peaceful dells and woodland shades,
In wild romantic scenes I stray;
And wander through the sylvan glades,
With airy footstep light and gay:
Yet still my favourite lonely spot,
The sweet retirement of the grot.










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