 | Poems by James Rhoades |  |
39
THE NIGHTINGALE.
I was there, and I heard; for the woods had been ringing;
All day common sounds through the earth did prevail;
But they hushed stricken dumb at the voice of thy singing,
As it fell from the stars, sweet nightingale.
All day common sounds through the earth did prevail;
But they hushed stricken dumb at the voice of thy singing,
As it fell from the stars, sweet nightingale.
First a low golden plaint, weak with passion, then stronger,
Cry on cry, such as angels flown earthward might wake;
Then a flood, for thy full heart could hold it no longer,
Then a pause—that man's heart, were it holy, must break.
Cry on cry, such as angels flown earthward might wake;
40
Then a pause—that man's heart, were it holy, must break.
Yet the beautiful day had no ears to hear thee,
With her thousand lovers so loud and sweet;
When they ceasèd, then God made the earth to fear thee,
And for rapture the day fell dead at thy feet.
With her thousand lovers so loud and sweet;
When they ceasèd, then God made the earth to fear thee,
And for rapture the day fell dead at thy feet.
O bird! O wonderful! where does He hide thee?
All winter long in what heavenly nest?
Does He hark to thy singing the while, then chide thee,
That thou givest dull human ears the rest?
All winter long in what heavenly nest?
Does He hark to thy singing the while, then chide thee,
That thou givest dull human ears the rest?
Or else does He beckon thee there to teach thee
Of sorrow and of love's transcendent fire?
If haply the hearts, through thy song that reach thee,
May to Him and to all blest things grow nigher.
Of sorrow and of love's transcendent fire?
If haply the hearts, through thy song that reach thee,
May to Him and to all blest things grow nigher.
41
Yea, therefore He has made all thy soul like a fury,
Thy form half-mysterious, scarce given to the sight,
That thou mightest overflow with the spirit of glory,
As the great heaven o'erflows with the starry light:
Thy form half-mysterious, scarce given to the sight,
That thou mightest overflow with the spirit of glory,
As the great heaven o'erflows with the starry light:
For to some God has given high contentment in duty,
Without passion to love, without longing to see;
But to those that still pant for the spirit of beauty
He has given this beautiful earth—and thee.
Without passion to love, without longing to see;
But to those that still pant for the spirit of beauty
He has given this beautiful earth—and thee.
| Poems by James Rhoades | |