 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
17
THE DOVE.
When in the sultry noons of summertide
The song-birds hide
Mid secret boughs where not a leaf is stirred,
Or note is heard
Of all the rapturous melodies of spring
With which the woodland echoes used to ring.
The song-birds hide
Mid secret boughs where not a leaf is stirred,
Or note is heard
Of all the rapturous melodies of spring
With which the woodland echoes used to ring.
And silenced by the burden and the heat,
The voices sweet
Of feathered minstrels by the wayside cease,
And slumbrous Peace
Possesses field and grove and honied air,
And draws a filmy veil o'er landscape fair:
The voices sweet
Of feathered minstrels by the wayside cease,
And slumbrous Peace
Possesses field and grove and honied air,
And draws a filmy veil o'er landscape fair:
There comes from verdurous glooms a sound I love
Of brooding dove—
A soft, low note from heart of shadows deep
Which round it sleep—
It seems the voice of Peace itself I hear
Stealing upon the sense with cadence clear.
Of brooding dove—
A soft, low note from heart of shadows deep
Which round it sleep—
18
Stealing upon the sense with cadence clear.
And not the sense alone, the inmost soul
Owns its control,
And welcomes in that sylvan note the sign
Of Peace divine
Which once came gently gliding from above
On the smooth pinions of the Holy Dove.
Owns its control,
And welcomes in that sylvan note the sign
Of Peace divine
Which once came gently gliding from above
On the smooth pinions of the Holy Dove.
Come now, blest Dove, from heavenly bowers, and bring
Peace on Thy wing;
Oh, bid my hushed and wistful heart rejoice
With Thy sweet voice:
Earth's pleasant voices fade away and cease,
Oh, let me hear Thy music whispering peace.
Peace on Thy wing;
Oh, bid my hushed and wistful heart rejoice
With Thy sweet voice:
Earth's pleasant voices fade away and cease,
Oh, let me hear Thy music whispering peace.
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |