A PRESENCE both by night and day, That made my life seem just begun, Yet scarce a presence, rather say The warning aureole of one. And yet I felt it everywhere; Walked I the woodland's aisles along, It seemed to brush me with its hair; Bathed I, I heard a mermaid's song. How sweet it was! A buttercup Could hold for me a day's delight, A bird could lift my fancy up To ether free from cloud or blight. Who was the nymph? Nay, I will see, Methought, and I will know her near; If such, divined, her charm can be, Seen and possessed, how triply dear! So every magic art I tried, And spells as numberless as sand, Until, one evening, by my side I saw her glowing fulness stand. I turned to clasp her, but "Farewell," Parting she sighed, "we meet no more; Not by my hand the curtain fell That leaves you conscious, wise, and poor. "Since you have found me out, I go; Another lover I must find, Content his happiness to know, Nor strive its secret to unwind." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SHE CAME AND WENT by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG NYMPH GOING TO BED by JONATHAN SWIFT A PARTING SONG by WILLIAM AITKEN COUNTRY DOCTOR by DANA KNEELAND AKERS NOVEMBER 4TH, 1937 by LEONARD BACON (1887-1954) A SIMPLE STORY, FR. MY SOUVENIRS by JACQUES BOE CALL OF THE OPEN by LAURA E. BRADSHAW THE CITY [OF THE DEAD]. by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON HAYING, VERMONT AND GINGER DRINK COORDINATED by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY |