REMEMBERED MUSIC. A FRAGMENT. THICK-rushing, like an ocean vast The notes crowd heavily and fast As surfs, one plunging while the last Draws seaward from its foamy breaking. Or in low murmurs they began, Rising and rising momently, As o'er a harp Æolian A fitful breeze, until they ran Up to a sudden ecstasy. 1840. And then, like minute-drops of rain Ringing in water silverly, They lingering dropped and dropped again, Till it was almost like a pain To listen when the next would be. SONG: To M. L. A LILY thou wast when I saw thee first, A lily-bud not opened quite, That hourly grew more pure and white, By the wind and sun; The rain and the dew for thee took care; It seemed thou never couldst be more fair. A lily thou wast when I saw thee first, How full of wonder was the change, When, ripe with all sweetness, thy full bloom burst! How did the tears to my glad eyes start, When the woman-flower Reached its blossoming hour, And I saw the warm deeps of thy golden heart! Glad death may pluck thee, but never before Hath dropped from thy heart into mine, To quicken its faint germs of heavenly lore; Of fragrance and light, Which fall upon souls that are lone and astray, To plant fruitful hopes of the flower of day. TO THE DANDELION. DEAR common flower, that grow'st beside the way, Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold, First pledge of blithesome May, Which children pluck, and, full of pride, uphold, Which not the rich earth's ample round May match in wealth,—thou art more dear to me Than all the prouder summer-blooms may be. Gold such as thine ne'er drew the Spanish prow Through the primeval hush of Indian seas, Nor wrinkled the lean brow Of age, to rob the lover's heart of ease; 'T is the spring's largess, which she scatters now |