'Twas a balmy summer morning, Warm and early, Such as only June bestows; Everywhere the earth adorning, Dews lay pearly In the lily-bell and rose. Up from each green-leafy bosk and hollow Rose the blackbird's pleasant lay; And the soft cuckoo was sure to follow: 'Twas the dawning of the day! Through the perfumed air the golden Bees flew round me; Bright fish dazzled from the sea, Till medreamt some fairy olden- World spell bound me In a trance of witcherie. Steeds pranced round anon with stateliest housings, Bearing riders prankt in rich array, Like flushed revelers after wine-carousings: 'Twas the dawning of the day! Then a strain of song was chanted, And the lightly Floating sea-nymphs drew anear. Then again the shore seemed haunted By hosts brightly Clad, and wielding sword and spear! Then came battle shouts -- an onward rushing -- Swords, and chariots, and a phantom fray. Then all vanished: the bright skies were blushing In the dawning of the day! Cities girt with glorious gardens, Whose immortal Habitants in robes of light Stood, methought, as angel-wardens Nigh each portal, Now arose to daze my sight. Eden spread around, revived and blooming; When -- lo! as I gazed, all passed away: I saw but black rocks and billows looming In the dim chill dawn of day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE FALLEN (SEPTEMBER 1914) by LAURENCE BINYON THE LITTLE GIRL LOST, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE ODE WRITTEN IN [THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR] 1746 by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) HOW THE CUMBERLAND WENT DOWN [MARCH 8, 1862] by SILAS WEIR MITCHELL THE FOURTH OF JULY by JOHN PIERPONT |