Minuscula Lyrics of Nature, Art and Love. By Francis William Bourdillon |
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| II. |
 | III. |
The Story of a Lover's Soul |
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| IV. |
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77
The Story of a Lover's Soul
Oh, the days of a dawning rapture
In earth and skies,
When a callow soul came tame to the capture
Of thy soft eyes;
When a fluttering heart to thy hand came meekly,
As a 'scaped cage-bird when the wind blows bleakly!
In earth and skies,
When a callow soul came tame to the capture
Of thy soft eyes;
When a fluttering heart to thy hand came meekly,
As a 'scaped cage-bird when the wind blows bleakly!
All my heart at thy kisses kindled,
As a wine-fed flame;
All my old self was scorched and dwindled,
As a new self came;
As a new self grew, like the tender grasses
In the blackened forest, when the fire passes.
As a wine-fed flame;
All my old self was scorched and dwindled,
As a new self came;
As a new self grew, like the tender grasses
In the blackened forest, when the fire passes.
Oh, the days of the revelation
Of the glory of Love!
Earth itself was a new creation;
And Heaven above,
Height beyond height, unreached, undreamed,
Wide open to my winged soul seemed.
Of the glory of Love!
Earth itself was a new creation;
And Heaven above,
Height beyond height, unreached, undreamed,
Wide open to my winged soul seemed.
78
Oh, the days of the desolation,
The days of fire!
The darkened heavens—the desecration
Oh high desire!
When the heart, that was Love's Dodona, lies
A blackened desert where dust-whirls rise.
The days of fire!
The darkened heavens—the desecration
Oh high desire!
When the heart, that was Love's Dodona, lies
A blackened desert where dust-whirls rise.
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