Lyrical and other poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Lyrical and other poems

Simms, William Gilmore (1806-1870)

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DITHYRAMBIC.

Wake, O, wake the lyre,
Troll the chords along,
With a Pindar's fire,
Kindling into song;
In a wilder measure,
Still renew the tone,
Whilst Fancy casts her treasure,
From her flow'ry throne;
And the air is breathing,
Perfumes all around;
And the flow'rs enwreathing,
Have my temples bound.

Now in grandeur swelling,
Pour the notes on high,
'Till they burst the dwelling,
And mingle with the sky.
What is Life, that coldly
It should glide along?
Touch the wires boldly,
And fill my heart with song;

Till on magic wing,
In hues that heaven array'd it,
My buoyant soul shall spring
High up, to him that made it.

Now the wine is gushing,
Hues so purely bright—
And my cheek is flushing,
And my heart is light;
Time has fled affrighted,
Care has shrunk away,
No longer grief benighted—
Around us glows the day:
The day of joy and pleasure,
When Rapture's sun is bright,
And her magic treasure,
Fancy fills to night.

Strike the lyre, whilst flowing
The goblet teems again;
With all its magic glowing,
We cannot dream of pain;
The wing of joy is fleeting—
The rain-bow's varied glare,
That whilst the heart is beating,
Dissolves into a tear.
Let us grasp it madly,
Be the present mine,
And tho' it melts thus sadly,
Its tears be made of wine.