Classic Poem

As I leant upon a lawn,
Whence my love had just withdrawn
For some business at her mother's kindly call,
Up beside a hedge of yew,
Near the house-porch, far from new,
Leading through
Stonen doorjambs to the hall,

There were blossoms all around,
On the boughs, and on the ground,
And the glossy-feather'd birds were loud in song;
And a stream below me flow'd,
And upon its water show'd
Some that row'd,
Strong and gay, a boat along.

Then I, dreaming, saw, instead
Of the sight around my head,
One that open'd to my fancy fairer still,
For the house, a palace white,
Marble-walled, and all bedight
For the sight
With the works of cunning skill.

There were alleys wall'd with yew,
Winding sunny, winding lew,
And with figures true to life though carved in stone,
Leading onward to a glade,
Where, below a cypress shade,
Water play'd
From a rock by moss o'ergrown.

There a shining river roll'd
Under boats that gleam'd with gold,
And with silken sails and silver'd oars and bows.
And my love was in my dream,
But no fairer could she seem
There to gleam
Than to waking sight she shows.