 | The complete poetical works of Oliver Wendell Holmes |  |
AN IMPROMPTU
I asked three little maidens who heard the organ play,
Where all the music came from that stole our hearts away:
“I know,”—said fair-haired Edith,—“it was the autumn breeze
That whistled through the hollows of all those silver trees.”
Where all the music came from that stole our hearts away:
“I know,”—said fair-haired Edith,—“it was the autumn breeze
That whistled through the hollows of all those silver trees.”
“No, child!”—said keen-eyed Clara,—“it is a lion's cage,—
They woke him out of slumber,—I heard him roar and rage.”
“Nay,”—answered soft-voiced Anna,—“'t was thunder that you heard,
And after that came sunshine and singing of a bird.”
They woke him out of slumber,—I heard him roar and rage.”
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And after that came sunshine and singing of a bird.”
“Hush, hush, you little children, for all of you are wrong,”
I said, “my pretty darlings,—it was no earthly song;
A band of blessed angels has left the heavenly choirs,
And what you heard last evening were seraph lips and lyres!”
I said, “my pretty darlings,—it was no earthly song;
A band of blessed angels has left the heavenly choirs,
And what you heard last evening were seraph lips and lyres!”
| The complete poetical works of Oliver Wendell Holmes | |