Nowfromthemeadowfloodsthewildduckclamours，Nowthewoodpigeonwingsarapidflight，Nowthehomewardrookeryfollowsupitsvanguard，Andthevalleymistsarecurlingupthehills。
Threeshortsongsgestheclear-voicedthrostle，Sweeteningthetwilighterehefillsthenest；
WhilethelittlebirdupontheleaflessbranchesTweetstoitsmateatinylongnote。
Deeperthestillnesshangsoneverymotion；
Calmerthesilencefollowseverycall；
Nowallisquietsavetheroostingpheasant，Thebell-wether’stinkleandthewatch-dog’sbark。
Softlyshinethelightsfromthesilentkindlinghomestead，Starsofthehearthtotheshepherdinthefold；
Springsofdesiretothetravellerontheroadway；
Everbreathingincensetotheever-blessingsky!
Howbarrenwouldthisvalleybe，WithoutthegoldenorbthatgazesOnit，broadeningtohuesOfrose，andspreadingwingsofamber；
Blessingitbeforeitfallsasleep。
Howbarrenwouldthisvalleybe，WithoutthehumanlesnowbeatingInit，orthethrobbingheartsFardistant，whotheirflowerofchildhoodCherishhere，andwateritwithtears!
HowbarrenshouldIbe，wereI
Withoutabovethatlongsplendour，Sheddinglightandwarmth!withoutSomekindrednaturesofmykindTojoyinme，oryearntowardsmenow!
Summerglowswarmonthemeadows，andspeedwell，andgold-cups，anddaisiesDarken’middeepeningmassesofsorrel，andshadowygrassesShowtheripehuetothefarmer，andsummonthescytheandthehay-
makersDownfromthellage；andnow，evennow，theairsmellsofthemowing，Andthesharpsongofthescythewhistlesdaily；fromdawn，tillthegloamingWearsitscoolstar，sweetandwelcometoallflamingfacesafieldnow；
Healyweighsthehotseason，anddrowsesthedarkeningfoliage，Droopingwithlanguor；thewhitecloudfloats，butsailsnot，forwindlessHeaven’sbluetentsit；nolarksingingupinitsfleecywhitevalleys；
Upinitsfairywhitevalleys，oncefeatheredwithminstrels，melodiousWiththeinsiblejoythatwakesdawno’erthegreenfieldsofEngland。
Summerglowswarmonthemeadows；thencome，letusroamthro’themgaily，Heedlessofheat，andthehot-kissingsun，andthefearofdarkfreckles。
Neveronekisswillhegeonaneck，oralily-whiteforehead，Chin，hand，orbosomuncovered，allpanting，totakethechancecoolness，Butfullsurethefierypressureleavessealofespousal。
Heedhimnot；come，tho’hekisstillthesoftlittleupper-liplosesHalfitspurewhiteness；justspeck’dwherethecurveoftherosymouthreddens。
Come，lethimkiss，lethimkiss，andhiskissesshallmaketheethesweeter。
Thouartnonun，veiledandvowed；doomedtonourishawitheringpallor!
Cityexoticsbesidetheewouldshowlikebleachedlinenatmid-day，Hunguponhedgesofeglantine!Thouinthefreedomofnature，Fullofherbeautyandwisdom，gentleness，joyance，andkindness!
Come，andlikebeeswillwegathertherichgoldenhoneyofnoontide；
Deepinthesweetsummermeadows，border’dbyhillsideandrer，Linedwithlongtrencheshalf-hidden，wheresmellofwhitemeadow-
sweet，sweetest，Blissfullyhovers——Osweetest!butpluckitnot!eveninthetenderestGraspitwilllosebreathandwither；likemany，notmadeforaposy。
See，thesunslopesdownthemeadows，wherealltheflowersarefalling!
Fallingunhymned；forthenightingalescarceevercharmsthelongtwilight：
Mutewiththecaresofthenest；onlyknownbya’chuck，chuck，’anddovelikeCallofcontent，butthefinchandthelinnetandblackcappipeloudly。
Roundonthewesternhill-sidewarblestherich-billedouzel；
Andtheshrillthrostleisfillingthetangledthickeningcopses；
Singingo’erhyacinthshid，andmosthoney’dofflowers，whitefield-rose。
Joythustorevelalldayinthegrassofourownbelovedcountry；
Revelallday，tillthelarkmountsatevewithhissweet’tirra-
lirra’：
Trillingdelightfully。See，ontherertheslow-rippledsurfaceShining；theslowripplebroadensincircles；thebrightsurfacesmoothens；
Nowitisflatastheleavesoftheyetunseenwater-lily。
Theredartthelesofaday，ever-varyingtacticsfantastic。
There，bythewet-mirroredosiers，theemeraldwingofthekingfisherFlashes，thefishinhisbeak!therethedab-chickded，andthemotionLazilyundulatesallthro’thetallstandingarmyofrushes。
Joythustorevelallday，tillthetwilightturnsushomeward!
Tillallthelingeringdeep-bloomingsplendourofsunsetisover，Andtheonestarshinesmildlyinmellowinghues，likeaspiritSenttoassureusthatlightneverdieth，tho’dayisnowburied。
Saying：to-morrow，to-morrow，fewhoursintervening，thatintervalTunedbythewoodlarkinheaven，to-morrowmysemblance，fareastward，Heraldstheday’tismymissioneternaltosealandtoprophecy。
Comethen，andhomeward；passingdowntheclosepathofthemeadows。
Homelikethebeesstoredwithsweetness；eachwithalarkinthebosom，Trillingforever，andoh!willyonlarkeverceasetosingupthere？
Oskylark!Iseetheeandcalltheejoy!
Thywingsbeartheeuptothebreastofthedawn；
Iseetheenomore，butthysongisstillThetongueoftheheavenstome!
ThusarethedayswhenIwasaboy；
SweetwhileIledinthem，dearnowthey’regone：
Ifeelthemnolonger，butstill，OstillTheytelloftheheavenstome。
WhenbudsofpalmdoburstandspreadTheirdownyfeathersinthelane，Andorchardblossoms，whiteandred，BreatheSpringdelightforAutumngain；
Andtheskylarkshakeshiswingsintherain；
Othenistheseasontolookforabride!
Chooseherwarily，wooherunseen；
ForthechoicestmaidsarethosethathideLikedewyoletsunderthegreen。
Whennutsbehindthehazel-leafArebrownasthesquirrelthathuntsthemfree，Andthefieldsarerichwiththesun-burntsheaf，’Midthebluecornflowerandtheyellowingtree；
Andthefarmerglowsandbeamsinhisglee；
Othenistheseasontowedtheeabride!
Erethegarnersarefilledandtheale-cupsfoam；
ForasmilinghostessistheprideAndflowerofeveryHarvestHome。
Burythysorrows，andtheyshallriseAssoulstotheimmortalskies，Andtherelookdownlikemothers’eyes。
Butletthyjoysbefreshasflowers，Thatsuckthehoneyoftheshowers，Andbloomalikeonhutsandtowers。
Soshallthydaysbesweetandbright；
Solemnandsweetthystarrynight，Consciousofloveeachchangeoflight。
Thestarswillwatchtheflowersasleep，Theflowerswillfeelthesoftstarsweep，Andbothwillmsensationsdeep。
Withthesebelow，withthoseabove，Sitsevermorethebroodingdove，Unitingbothinbondsoflove。
Forbothbynatureareakin；
Sorrow，theashenfruitofsin，Andjoy，thejuiceoflifewithin。
Childrenofeartharethese；andthoseThespiritsofdinerepose-
Deathradianto’erallhumanwoes。
O，thinkwhatthenhadbeenthydoom，IfhomelessandwithoutatombTheyhadbeenlefttohauntthegloom!
O，thinkagainwhatnowtheyare-
Motherlylove，tho’dimandfar，Imagedineverylustrousstar。
Forthey，intheirsalvation，knowNovestigeoftheirformerwoe，Whilethro’themalltheheavensdoflow。
Thusartthouweddedtotheskies，Andwatchedbyever-longeyes，Andwarnedbyyearningsympathies。
SONG
Theflowerunfoldsitsdawningcup，Andtheyoungsundrinksthestar-dewsup，Ateveitdroopswiththeblissofday，Anddreamsinthemidnightfaraway。
SoamIinthysole，sweetglancePressedwithaweightofutterance；
Longlyallmyleavesunfold，Andgleamtothebeamsofthirstygold。
AteveIdroop，forthentheswellOffeelingfaltersforthfarewell；-
AtmidnightIamdreamingdeep，Ofwhathasbeen，inblissfulsleep。
When——ah!whenwilllove’sownfightWedmealikethro’dayandnight，WhenwillthestarswiththeirlinkingcharmsWakeusineachother’sarms？
ThoutomeartsuchaspringAstheArabseeksateve，Thirstyfromtheshiningsands；
Theretobathehisfaceandhands，Whilethesunistakingleave，Anddewysleepisadeliciousthing。
ThoutomeartsuchadreamAshedreamsuponthegrass，WhilethebubblingcoolnessnearMakessweetmusicinhisear；
AndthestarsthatslowlypassInsolitarygrandeuro’erhimgleam。
ThoutomeartsuchadawnAsthedawnwhoseruddykissWakeshimtohisdarlingsteed；
Andagainthedesertspeed，Andagainthedesertbliss，Lightensthro’hisveins，andheisgone!
TheburiedvoicebespakeAntigone。
’Osister!couldstthouknow，asthouwiltknow，Theblissabove，thereverencebelow，Enkindledbythysacrificeforme；
ThouwouldstatoncewithholyecstasyGethywarmlimbsintotheyearningearth。
Sleep，Sister!forElysium’sdawningbirth，-
Andfaithwillfilltheewithwhatistobe!
Sleep，fortheGodsarewatchingoverthee!
Thydreamwillsteertheetoperformtheirwill，Assilentlytheirinfluencetheyinstil。
OSister!inthesweetnessofthyprime，Thyhandhaspluckedthebitterflowerofdeath；
ButthiswilldowertheewithElysianbreath，Thatfadeintoanever-fadingclime。
DeartotheGodsarethosethatdoliketheeAsolemnduty!forthetyrannyOfkingsisfeebletothesoulthatdaresDefythemtofulfilitssacredcares：
Andweakagainstamightywillaremen。
O，Torchbetweentwobrothers!inwhosegleamOurslaughteredHousedothshineasoneagain，Tho’severedbythesword；nowmaythydreamKindledesireintheeforus，andthou，Forgettingnotthyloverandhisvow，Leangnohumanmemoryforgot，Shaltcross，notunattended，thedarkstreamWhichrunsbytheeinsleepandripplesnot。
Thelargestarsglitterthro’theanousnight，Andthedeepskybroodslowtolookatthee：
Theairishush’danddarko’erlandandsea，Andalliswaitingforthemorrowlight：
Sodothykindredspiritswaitforthee。
OSister!softasonthedownwardrill，WillthosefirstdaybeamsfromthedistanthillFallonthesmoothnessofthyplacidbrow，Likethiscalmsweetnessbreathingthro’menow：
Andwhenthefatedsoundsshallwakethineeyes，Wiltthou，confidinginthesupremewill，Inallthymaidensteadfastnessarise，Firmtoobeyandearnesttofulfil；
Rememberingthenightthoudidstnotsleep，Andthissamebroodingskybeheldtheecreep，Defiantofunnaturaldecree，TowhereIlayupontheoutcastland；
Beforetheirongatesupontheplain；
Awretched，gravelessghost，whosewailingchillCametothydarkeneddoorimploringthee；
Yearningforburiallikemybrotherslain；-
Andallwasdaredforloveandpiety!
ThisthoughtwillnerveagainthyrginhandToserveitspurposeanditsdestiny。’
Shewoke，theyledherforth，andallwasstill。
Swathedroundinmistandcrown’dwithcloud，OMountain!hidfrompeaktobase-
CaughtupintotheheavensandclaspedInwhiteetherealarmsthatmakeThymysteryofsizesublime!
WhateyeorthoughtcanmeasurenowThygranddilatingloftiness!
WhatgiantcrestdisputewiththeeSupremacyofairandsky!
Whatfabledheightwiththeecompare!
Notthosene-terracedhillsthatseetheThelavaintheirfierycusps；
Northathigh-climbingrobeofsnow，Whosesummitstouchthemorningstar，Andbreathethethinnestairoflife；
Norcrocus-couchingIda，warmWithJuno’slatestnuptiallure；
NorTenedoswhosedreamyeyeStilllooksuponbeleagueredTroy；
NoryetOlympuscrown’dwithgodsCanboastamajestylikethine，OMountain!hidfrompeaktobase，AndimageoftheawfulpowerWithwhichthesecretofallthings，Thatstoopsfromheaventogarmentearth，Canspeaktoanyhumansoul，WhenoncetheearthlylimitsloseTheirpointedheightsandsharpenedlines，AndmeasurelessimmensityIspalpabletosenseandsight。
No，no，thefallingblossomisnosignOflovelinessdestroy’dandsorrowmute；
Theblossomshedsitslovelinessdine；-
Itsmissionistoprophecythefruit。
Noristhedayofloveforeverdead，Whenyoungenchantmentandromancearegone；
Theveilisdrawn，butallthefuturedreadIslightenedbythefingerofthedawn。
Lovemoveswithlifealongadarkerway，Theycastashadowandtheycallitdeath：
Butrichisthefulfilmentoftheirday；
Thepurerpassionandthefirmerfaith。