My Lyrical Life :: :: University of Virginia Library

“ My life lay like a Sea-bud, dark upon the watery wold,
That feels when Spring is in the world, and striveth to unfold;
The breath of Love passed o'er me, and the Spring went laughing by,
Till on a sudden I was 'ware, Belovèd, thou wert nigh!
The Bird of Love to my window came, and sang a strain divine;
Sweet Bird! he makes his nest, I said, 'neath other eaves than mine:
But many a day hath come and gone, and still he sits and sings
His song of happy futures, and of dear remembered things.

“My life went darkling like the Earth, nor knew it shone a Star
To that dear Heaven on which it hung in worship from afar.
O, many bared their bravery like flowers to the bee;
She might have ranged Elysian fields, but nestled down by me:
A King upon his Throne would have smiled her to his side;
But, with a lowly majesty she came to me, my Bride,
And grandly gave her love to me, the dearest thing on Earth,
Like one who gives a jewel, all unweeting of its worth.

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“O, was it an Immortal Child, left by a fair Dream-Bride,
Seen in a world of vision with mine eyes stretched spirit-wide?
Or was the Image pictured, by the sun of another life,
In secret soul, that I might know its living form my Wife?
I say not; but, when luminous she floated on to me,
Methought she flamed from out the mist of some far memory.
The hiding Love just stirring the spring-roses of her face;
The picture of sweet Saintliness; the glory and the grace.

“'Twas when the Earth her green lap spreads for Summer's gorgeous gifts;
And plump for kisses of the Sun, her ripened cheek uplifts;
When May among her flowers was caught in lusty arms of June;
She newly strung my harp of life, and played its sweetest tune.
O, I had been content to live in a Cottage of the clay,
So I might see and bless her, when she chanced to pass that way;
But she came down from her heaven, with a look that glorified,
And I clasp my heart's sweet Vision; lo! a nestling human Bride.”