Poems; original and translated by Charles Rann Kennedy ... and Two Poems by the Rev. Rann Kennedy. New Edition. By Charles Rann Kennedy |
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MORNING. |
 | Poems; original and translated |  |
16
MORNING.
Whom do I in the East descry,
Nearer now and nearer;
Silver-bright in a robe of light,
Clearer now and clearer?
Nearer now and nearer;
Silver-bright in a robe of light,
Clearer now and clearer?
All in space she floats with grace,
Radiant are her glances:
Twilight fades, and distant shades
Melt as she advances.
Radiant are her glances:
Twilight fades, and distant shades
Melt as she advances.
Flaxen-fair the stream of hair
Waving down her shoulder:
Clouds with fringe of saffron tinge
Like a scarf enfold her:
Waving down her shoulder:
Clouds with fringe of saffron tinge
Like a scarf enfold her:
Deeper hues her cheek suffuse,
Like the bloom of roses;
Like the flush of a maiden's blush,
That her love discloses.
Like the bloom of roses;
Like the flush of a maiden's blush,
That her love discloses.
Who are they that throng in play?
Spirits young and airy,
From their sleep in the misty deep
Rise to greet the fairy.
Spirits young and airy,
From their sleep in the misty deep
Rise to greet the fairy.
17
All the band, as she waves her hand,
Gaily flock around her,
Fluttering and frolicking,
Happy to have found her.
Gaily flock around her,
Fluttering and frolicking,
Happy to have found her.
And the glee of their harmony
In mine ear is ringing:
Oh that I had wings to fly!
There would I be singing!
In mine ear is ringing:
Oh that I had wings to fly!
There would I be singing!
She the while her beamy smile
Sheds benignly o'er them;
Yet she will be mounting still
In the clouds before them.
Sheds benignly o'er them;
Yet she will be mounting still
In the clouds before them.
Lo, her brow is kindling now
Into sunny splendours:
Who can tell to what holy spell
She her soul surrenders?
Into sunny splendours:
Who can tell to what holy spell
She her soul surrenders?
Trustfully she looks on high,
As when one believing
Mysteries unearthly sees
Past the mind's conceiving:
As when one believing
Mysteries unearthly sees
Past the mind's conceiving:
And the stream of her golden beam
Faster falls and stronger;
And those eyn so dazzling shine,
I can gaze no longer:
Faster falls and stronger;
And those eyn so dazzling shine,
I can gaze no longer:
18
I would fain (but all in vain
Is my mortal yearning)
Drink the rays, till in their blaze
Were my bosom burning.
Is my mortal yearning)
Drink the rays, till in their blaze
Were my bosom burning.
Is she gone? There is not one
Of those forms remaining,
In the clear blue atmosphere
Silent beauty reigning:
Of those forms remaining,
In the clear blue atmosphere
Silent beauty reigning:
All above is joy and love,
Mountains fall asunder,
Hills arise and kiss the skies;
Lost am I in wonder!
Mountains fall asunder,
Hills arise and kiss the skies;
Lost am I in wonder!
| Poems; original and translated | |