INTO the air I breathed a sigh; She, afar, another breathed -- Sighs that, like a butterfly, Each went wandering low and high, Till the air with sighs was wreathed. When each other long they sought, On a star-o'er-twinkled hill Jasmine, trembling with the thought, Both within her chalice caught, A lover's potion to distil. Drank of this a nightingale, Guided by the starlight wan -- Drank and sang from dale to dale, Till every streamlet did exhale Incense to the waking dawn. Like the dawn, the maiden heard; While, afar, I felt the fire In the bosom of the bird; Forth our sighs again were stirred With a sevenfold desire. These we followed till we learned Where they trysted; there erelong Their fond nightingale returned. Deeper then our longings burned, Deeper the delights of song. Now, when at the wakening hour, Sigh to sigh, we greet his lay, Well we know its mystic power -- Feeling dawn and bird and flower Pouring meaning into May. Jasmine, perfume every grove! Nightingale, forever sing To the brightening dawn above Of the mystery of love In the mystery of Spring! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SCHOOLS OF LITTLE FISH by MARVIN BELL THE INCORRIGIBLE DIRIGIBLE by HAYDEN CARRUTH POETS ARE BORN NOT MADE by ROBERT FROST ISOLATION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE RETURN (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DRAW THE SWORD, O REPUBLIC by EDGAR LEE MASTERS KILLED IN ACTION by ISAAC ROSENBERG MANOKWARI, IRIAN JAYA; IN MEMORIAM, ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE by KAREN SWENSON |