1 "OH hush," I cried, "that thrilling voice, That shepherd's plaint no more prolong, Nor bid those happy loves rejoice Thro' feigned rusticities of song! Too soft a passion through thee sings, Too yearning-sweet the phrases flow; Too deep that music strikes, and brings The tears of long ago. 2 "Ah! let me keep my frozen peace, Forget with years the ardent boy, And face the waking world, and cease To dream of passion, dream of joy! And yet this heart how strangely yearned! How seemed the dream more true than day! What flame was that which through me burned, And burns, and fades away?" 3 But she, whose young blood softly stirred Had bid the unconscious maiden sing, Heart-whole, and simply as a bird That feels the onset of the spring,— She from mine eyes their secret drew, Learnt from my lips the lover's tone, And in my soul's confusion knew The impulse of her own. 4 Who is herself my vision's truth, Herself my heart's unknown desire, Herself the hope that led my youth With counterchange of cloud and fire;— Then let her sing as Love has willed Of mimic loves that die in air,— A deeper strain my soul has filled, Herself the music there. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE YOUNG GLASS-STAINER by THOMAS HARDY THE ARROW AND THE SONG by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SPRING'S WELCOME, FR. ALEXANDER AND CAMPASPE by JOHN LYLY MY CRYSTAL BRIDE by WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS THE MARCH OF THE REGIMENT, 1861 by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL |