I'd find out music in the hail If I might see another Spring — If I might see another Spring S A PEAL OF BELLS. TRIKE the bells wantonly, Bring me wine, bring me flowers, All my lamps burn scented oil, Golden fruit, fresh-plucked and ripe; Strike the bells and breathe the pipe ; Shut out showers from summer hours; Silence that complaining lute; Shut out thinking, shut out pain, From hours that cannot come again. Strike the bells solemnly, Ding dong deep: My friend is passing to his bed, Fast asleep; There's plaited linen round his head, My feast's a show, my lights are dim ; His lights are out, his feast is done; A FATA MORGANA. BLUE-EYED phantom far before Is laughing, leaping toward the sun : Like lead I chase it evermore, I pant and run. It breaks the sunlight bound on bound; To sheep-bells with a dreamy sound A dreamy song. I laugh, it is so brisk and gay; "NO, THANK YOU, JOHN." I NEVER said I loved you, John: Why will you tease me, day by day, You know I never loved you, John; No fault of mine made me your toast: Why will you haunt me with a face as wan As shows an hour-old ghost? I dare say Meg or Moll would take And pray don't remain single for my sake I have no heart? - Perhaps I have not; Let bygones be bygones: Don't call me false, who owed not to be true: I'd rather answer Than answer "No" to fifty Johns "Yes" to you. Let's mar our pleasant days no more, Let us strike hands as hearty friends; And points not understood In open treaty. Rise above Quibbles and shuffling off and on : Here's friendship for you if you like; but love,No, thank you, John. I MAY. CANNOT tell you how it was ; But this I know: it came to pass Upon a bright and breezy day When May was young; ah, pleasant May! As yet the poppies were not born Between the blades of tender corn; The last eggs had not hatched as yet, Nor any bird foregone its mate. I cannot tell you what it was; I A PAUSE OF THOUGHT. LOOKED for that which is not, nor can be, And hope deferred made my heart sick in truth But years must pass before a hope of youth Is resigned utterly. I watched and waited with a steadfast will: Sometimes I said: This thing shall be no more ; Sometimes I said: It is an empty name I long for; to a name why should I give |