Therestandsasingerinthestreet，Hehasanaudiencemotleyandmeet；
AbovehimlowerstheLondonnight，Andaroundthelampsareflaringbright。
Hisminstrelsymaybeunchaste-
’Tismuchuntothatmotleytaste，AndloudthelaughterheprovokesFromthosesadslavesofobscenejokes。
ButwoeismanyapasserbyWhoashegoesturnshalfaneye，ToseethehumanformdineThusCirce-wisechangedintoswine!
MakeupthesumofeithersexThatallourhumanhopesperplex，WiththoseunhappyshapesthatknowThesilentstreetsandpalecock-crow。
AndcanItraceinsuchdulleyesOffiresidepeaceorcountryskies？
AndcouldthosehaggardcheekspresumeTomemoriesofaMay-tidebloom？
ThoseolatedformshavebeenTheprideofmanyafloweringgreen；
AndstilltherginbosomheavesWithdaisymeadsanddewyleaves。
ButstygiandarknessreignswithinThererofdeathfromthefountsofsin；
AndonepropheticwaterrollsItsgas-litsurfacefortheirsouls。
Iwillnothidethetragicsight-
Thosedrown’dblacklocks，thosedeadlipswhite，Willrisefromouttheslimyflood，AndcrybeforeGod’sthroneforblood!
Thosestiffenedlimbs，thatswollenface，-
Pollution’slastandbestembrace，Willcall，assuchapicturecan，Forretributionuponman。
Hark!howtheirfeeblelaughterrings，Whilestilltheballad-mongersings，AndflatterstheirunhappybreastsWithpoisonouswordsandpungentjests。
OhowwouldeverydaisyblushToseethem’midthatearthycrush!
Odumbwouldbetheeveningthrush，Andhoarylookthehawthornbush!
ThemeadowsoftheirinfancyWouldshrinkfromthem，andeverytree，Andeverylittlelaughingspot，Wouldhushitselfandknowthemnot。
PrecursortowhatblackdespairsWasthatchild’sfacewhichoncewastheirs!
AndOtowhataworldofguileWasheraldthatyoungangelsmile!
Thatfacewhichtoafather’seyeWasbalmforallanety；
Thatsmilewhichtoamother’sheartWentswifterthantheswallow’sdart!
Ohappyhomes!thatstilltheyknowAtintervals，withwhatawoeWouldyelookonthem，dimandstrange，Sufferingworsethanwinterchange!
AndyetcouldItransplantthemthere，TobreatheagaintheinnocentairOfyouth，andoncemorereconcileTheiroutcastlookswithnature’ssmile；
CouldIbutgethemonecleardayOfthisdeliciouslongMay，Releasetheirsoulsfromanguishdark，Andstandthemunderneaththelark；-
IthinkthatNaturewouldhavepowerTograftagainherblightedflowerUponthebrokenstem，renewSomeportionofitsearlyhue；-
Theheavyfloodoftearsunlock，MorepreciousthantheScripturedrock；
Atleastinstilahappiermood，Andbringthembacktowomanhood。
Alas!howmanylostonesclaimThisrefugefromdespairandshame!
Howmany，longingforthelight，Sinkdeeperintheabyssthisnight!
O，cryingsin!O，blushingthought!
NotonlyuntothosethatwroughtThemiseryanddeadlyblight；
Butthosethatoutcastthemthisnight!
O，agonyofgrief!forwhoLessdaintythanhisrace，willdoSuchbattlefortheirhumanright，Asshallawakethisstartlednight？
ProclaimthiselhumanpageWilleverblottheGoldenAgeThatpoetsdreamandsaintsinte，Ifitbeunredeemedthisnight？
Thisnightofdeepsolemnity，Andverdurousserenity，WhileovereveryfleecyfieldThedewsdescendandodoursyield。
Thisnightofgleamingfloodsandfalls，Offorestgloomsandsylvancalls，Ofstarlightonthepebblyrills，Andtwilightonthecirclinghills。
Thisnight!whenfromthepathsofmenGreyerrorsteamsasfromafen；
Aso’erthisflaringCitywreathesTheblackcloud-vapourthatitbreathes!
ThisnightfromwhichamornwillspringBloomingonitsorientwing；
AmorntorollwithmanymoreItsghostlyfoamonthetwilightshore。
Morn!whenthefateofallmankindHangspoisedindoubt，andmanisblind。
HisdutiesofthedaywillseemThefactoflife，andminethedream：
Thedestiniesthatbardshavesung，Regenerationtotheyoung，Reverberationofthetruth，Andrtuouscultureuntoyouth!
Youth!inwhoseseasonletaboundAllflowersandfruitsthatstrewtheground，Voluptuousjoywhereloveconsents，Andhealthandpleasurepitchtheirtents：
Allraptureandallpuredelight；
Agardenallunknowntoblight；
ButnevertheunnaturalsightThatthrongstheshamelesssongthisnight!
UnderboughsofbreathingMay，Inthemildspring-timeIlay，Lonely，forIhadnolove；
Andthesweetbirdsallsangforpity，Cuckoo，lark，anddove。
Tellme，cuckoo，thenIcried，DareIwooandwedabride？
I，likethee，havenohome-nest；
Andthetwinnotesthustunedtheirditty，-
’Lovecananswerbest。’
Nor，warmdovewithtendercoo，HaveIthysoftvoicetowoo，Evenwereadamselby；
Andthedeepwoodlandcrooneditsditty，-
’Loveherfirstandtry。’
NorhaveI，wildlark，thywing，ThatfrombluestheavencanbringBliss，whateverfatebefall；
Andthesky-lyristtrilledthisditty，-
’Lovewillgetheeall。’
SoitchancedwhileJunewasyoung，Wooingwellwithferventsong，Ihadwonadamselcoy；
Andthesweetbirdsthatsangforpity，Jubileedforjoy。
Howsweetonsunnyafternoons，Forthosewhojourneylightandwell，ToloiterupahillyriseWhichhidestheprospectfarbeyond，AndfancyallthelandscapelyingBeautifulandstill；
Beneathaskyofsummerblue，Whoseroundedcloudlets，foldedsoft，GazeonthescenewhichweawaitAndpicturefromtheirpeacefulness；
SocalmlytotheearthincliningFloatthoselongshapes!
Likeairybrides，eachsinglingoutAspottoloveandblesswithlove，Theircreamybosomsglowingwarm，Tilldistancewedsthemtothehills，AndwithitslatestgleamthererSinksintheirembrace。
Andsilverlythererruns，Andmanyagracefulwindhemakes，Byfieldswherefeedthehappyflocks，Andhedge-rowshushingpleasantlanes，ThecharmsofEnglishhomereflectedInhisshiningeye：
Ancestraloak，broad-foliagedelm，Richmeadowssunnedandstarredwithflowers，ThecottagebreathingtendersmokeAgainstthebroodinggoldenair，WithglimpsesofastatelymansionOnawoodlandsward；
Andcirclinground，aswitharing，Thedistancespreadingamberhaze，Enclosinghillsandpasturessweet；
AdepthofsoftandmellowlightWhichfillstheheartwithsuddenyearningAimlessandserene!
Nodisenchantmentfollowshere，Fornature’sinspirationmovesThedreamwhichsheherselffulfils；
Andhewhoseheart，likevalleywarmth，SteamsupwithjoyatsceneslikethisShallneverbeforlorn。
AndOforanyhumansoulTheraptureofawidesurvey-
AvalleysweepingtotheWest，Withallitswealthofloveliness，IsmorethanrecompensefordaysThattaughtustoendure。
YonuplandslopewhichhidesthesunAscendingfromhiseasterndeeps，AndnowagainstthehuesofdawnOnelevellineoftillagerears；
Thefurrowedbrowoftoilandtime；
Tomanyitisbutasweepofland!
Toothers’tisanAutumntrust，Butuntomeamystery；-
Aninfluencestrangeandswiftasdreams；
Awhisperingofoldromance；
Atemplenakedtotheclouds；
Oroneofnature’sbosomsfreshrevealed，Heangwithadoration!thereTheworkofhusbandryisdone，Anddailybreadisdailyearned；
NorseemsthereoughttoindicateThespringswhichmoveinmesuchthoughts，Butfrommysoulaspiritcallsthemup。
Alldayintotheopensky，Allnighttotheeternalstars，ForeverbothatmornandeveMenmellowdistancesdrawnear，Andshadowslengtheninthedusk，Athwarttheheavensitrollsitsglimmeringline!
Whentwilightfromthedream-huedWestSighshush!andallthelandisstill；
When，fromthelushempurplingEast，ThetwilightofthecrowingcockPeersonthedrowsyllageroofs，Athwarttheheavensthatglimmeringlineisseen。
Andnowbeneaththerisingsun，WhoseshiningchariotoverpeersTheirradiateridge，whilefetlockdeepIntherichsoilhiscoursersplunge-
Howgrandinrobesoflightitlooks!
Howgloriouswithraresuggestegrace!
TheploughmanmountinguptheheightBecomesaglowingshape，asthough’TwereyoungTriptolemus，ploughinhand，WhileCeresinheramberscarfWithgentlelovedirectshimhowTowedthewillingearthandhopeforfruits!
ThefurrowsrunninguparefraughtWithmeanings；therethegoddesswalks，WhileProserpineisyoung，andthere-
’Midthelateautumnsheaves，hervoiceSobbingandchokedwithdumbdespair-
Thenightswillhearherwailingforherchild!
Whateverdimtraditiontells，Whateverhistorymayreveal，Orfancy，fromherstarrybrows，Oflightordreamfullustreshed，CouldnotatthissweettimeincreaseThequietconsecrationofthespot。
Blestwiththesweatoflabour，blestWiththeyoungsun’sfirstgorousbeams，llagehopeandharvestprayer，-
TheheartthatthrobsbeneathitholdsAblisssoperfectinitselfMen’sthoughtsmustborrowratherthanbestow。
Nowstandingonthishedgesidepath，UpwhichtheeveningwindsareblowingWildlyfromthelingeringlinesOfsunseto’erthehills；
Unaidedbyonemotethought，MyspiritwithastrangeimpulsionRises，likeafledgling，Whosewingsarenotmature，butstillSupportedbyitsstrongdesireBeatsupitsnateairandleavesThetendermother’snest。
Greatmusicunderheavenismade，AndinthetrackofrushingdarknessComesthesolemnshapeofnight，Andbroodsabovetheearth。
AthingofNatureamInow，Abroad，withoutasenseorfeelingBornnotofherbosom；
Contentwithallhertruthsandfates；
Ev’nasyonstripofgrassthatbowsAbovethenew-bornoletbloom，Andsingswithwoodandfield。
Lo，asatree，whosewintrytwigsDrinkinthesunwithfibrousjoy，AnddownintoitsdampestrootsThrillsquickenedwiththedraughtoflife，Iwakeuntothedawn，andleavemygriefstodrowse。
Iriseanddrinkthefreshsweetair：
EachdraughtafuturebudofSpring；
Eachglanceofblueabirthofgreen；
IwillnotmimicyonderoakThatdallieswithdeadleavesev’nwhiletheprimrosepeeps。
Butfullofthesewarm-whisperingbeams，LikeMemnoninhismother’seye，-
Aurora!whenthestatuestoneMoanedsofttoherpathetictouch，-
Mysoulshallownitsparentinthefountsofday!
Andeverintherecurringlight，Truetotheprimaljoyofdawn，Forgetitsbarrengriefs；andayeLikeaspensinthefaintestbreezeTurnallitssilversidesandtrembleintosong。