University of Virginia Library


197

SERENADE.

List, lady, listen,
While brightly glisten
The lulling waves in the sweet starlight,
For music hath woke
Her echoes, and broke
The dreamy hush of the summer night.
Fairies awaking
Dells are forsaking
The magic fall of my strain to hear:—
Star of my being!
Darkness is fleeing,
And sprites, in the green-wood born, are near.
Wake, dearest, waken,
Moonbeams have taken
From queenly Night an eclipsing cloud—
Billows kiss brightly
My skiff rocking lightly
Beneath the porch of thy dwelling proud.
Angels are near me,
Water-nymphs hear me,
Their pearl-cars float on the glassy tide—
Winds have been wooing,
With whisper subduing,
Blossoms that blush on the mountain side.
While wavelets glisten,
List, lady, listen,
For notes to the landward breeze are given
Sweet as that lay
Thou wilt hearken alway
When thy soul leaves Earth to gladden Heaven.