Poems and Songs By Robert Gilfillan. Fourth edition. With memoir of the author, and appendix of his latest pieces |
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ODE TO THE HARP. |
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 | Poems and Songs |  |
255
ODE TO THE HARP.
Thou harp of song! why sleep'st thou now?
Thy once high tones are low;
Yet Moore hath sounded all thy joy,
And Byron all thy woe!
Thy once high tones are low;
Yet Moore hath sounded all thy joy,
And Byron all thy woe!
The willow branch is now thy home,
Beside the silent stream,—
Do all the mighty slumber now,
In death's unbroken dream?
Beside the silent stream,—
Do all the mighty slumber now,
In death's unbroken dream?
Where is the bard who swept thy chords
On Coila's flowery lea?
Whose song—harp of a thousand years—
Brought glory back to thee!
On Coila's flowery lea?
Whose song—harp of a thousand years—
Brought glory back to thee!
Where is the bard whose magic touch,
All on thy trembling string,
The pride, the pomp of chivalry,
From time's long vast did bring?
All on thy trembling string,
The pride, the pomp of chivalry,
From time's long vast did bring?
256
Alas! the clarion sounds no more,
Nor neighing steeds come forth
To welcome, in their bright array,
The Minstrel of the North!
Nor neighing steeds come forth
To welcome, in their bright array,
The Minstrel of the North!
Lone harp! are all thy chords unstrung?
Is all thy music o'er?
Shall none for love, for freedom, fame,
Thy harmony restore?
Is all thy music o'er?
Shall none for love, for freedom, fame,
Thy harmony restore?
The hollow wind creeps o'er thy strings,
And wakes this feeble strain—
“The halcyon days of song are past,
And may not come again!”
And wakes this feeble strain—
“The halcyon days of song are past,
And may not come again!”
Sad harp! where are thy echoes now?
Thy thrilling tones are low;
Yet Moore hath sounded all thy joy,
And Byron all thy woe!
Thy thrilling tones are low;
Yet Moore hath sounded all thy joy,
And Byron all thy woe!
| Poems and Songs | |