SONGS OF EXPERIENCE

Summary

INTRODUCTION.

Hear the voice of the bard,

Who Present, Past, and Future sees;

Whose ears have heard

The Holy Word

That walked among the ancient trees,

Calling the lapsed soul,

And weeping in the evening dew;

That might control

The starry pole,

And fallen, fallen light renew!

O Earth, O Earth, return!

Arise from out the dewy grass!

Night is worn,

And the morn

Rises from the slumberous mass.

Turn away no more;

Why wilt thou turn away?

The starry floor,

The watery shore,

Is given thee till the break of day.

EARTH'S ANSWER.

Earth raised up her head

From the darkness dread and drear,

Her light fled,

(Stony dread!)

And her locks covered with grey despair.

‘Prisoned on watery shore,

Starry jealousy does keep my den

Cold and hoar;

Weeping o'er,

I hear the father of the ancient men.

Selfish father of men!

Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!

Can delight,

Chain'd in night,

The virgins of youth and morning bear?

Does spring hide its joy,

When buds and blossoms grow?

Does the sower

Sow by night?

Or the ploughman in darkness plough?

Break this heavy chain,

That does freeze my bones around!

Selfish, vain,

Eternal bane,

That free love with bondage bound.'

THE CLOD AND THE PEBBLE.

Love seeketh not itself to please,

Nor for itself hath any care,

But for another gives its ease,

And builds a heaven in hell's despair.