The bard, and minor poems By John Walker Ord ... Collected and edited by John Lodge |
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 | The bard, and minor poems |  |
219
TO THE CUCKOO.
Fairy of the mountains,
Spirit of the grove,
Charmer of the fountains—
Whence that voice of love?
Spirit of the grove,
Charmer of the fountains—
Whence that voice of love?
From what secret dwelling
Sounds the changeful note—
Now from forest swelling,
Now from vale remote!
Sounds the changeful note—
Now from forest swelling,
Now from vale remote!
Not the lark of morning,
Nor the birds of night,
(All the groves adorning!)
Match thy voice of might:
Nor the birds of night,
(All the groves adorning!)
Match thy voice of might:
Voice that floats through heaven
With its tale of mirth—
Glories of the even,
Melodies of earth.
With its tale of mirth—
Glories of the even,
Melodies of earth.
Hues that fill the forest—
Freshest of the Spring;
Where the palm-tree soarest,
Where the wild-birds sing.
Freshest of the Spring;
Where the palm-tree soarest,
Where the wild-birds sing.
220
Harbinger of glory,
Rapture and delight,
When the mountains hoary
Rise in verdure bright:
Rapture and delight,
When the mountains hoary
Rise in verdure bright:
When the primrose springeth:
When the violets bloom;
When mute nature bringeth
Flowers for Winter's tomb.
When the violets bloom;
When mute nature bringeth
Flowers for Winter's tomb.
Thus in boyhood-pleasure,
From some distant tree,
Came the solemn measure
Greeting unto me.
From some distant tree,
Came the solemn measure
Greeting unto me.
Thus the heavens were gladden'd,
Thus the earth was bright:—
Heart and soul unsadden'd;
Spirit calm and bright.
Thus the earth was bright:—
Heart and soul unsadden'd;
Spirit calm and bright.
Thus in death's cold shadow,
Shall the echo near
Spread through field and meadow
Music o'er my bier.
Shall the echo near
Spread through field and meadow
Music o'er my bier.
| The bard, and minor poems | |