Classic Poem

Bear'st thou in mind the moon's glimmering light,
On rocks the waves dashing with sullen roar,
The rustling trees with sleepy leaves adight,
The chirruping crickets in the fields anight,
Close by the garden, on the sea-girt shore?

In twilight soft, beneath the garden's shade,
We wandered; scent of laurel filled the air;
We saw a grotto in the vineyard made,
And water falling, as we careless strayed,
Which sounded sweetly in the basin there.

Dost thou recall the freshness of the hour,
The smell of roses, and the murmuring brooks?
All Nature seemed entranced with magic power,
And at each other, in the perfumed bower
Sitting, gazed we with absorbing looks.

The music flowing from all Nature's smiles,
The melody working in the awakened soul,
This have I heard mid all the cozening wiles
Of life, — in direst storms, — and it beguiles
My aching heart, and fills my spirit whole.

I lent unto the chords attentive ear,
While my mind warmed to the beauteous sound,
Which touched my senses with triumphant cheer;
I listened till it drew me ever near,
And all my soul with joyous rapture bound.