Page:Poems Rice.djvu/75

LINES AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO MRS. E. P.

GENTLE lady, art thou singing
 Touching songs of love to-night,
Ever soothing, ever flinging
 All around me hues of light?
Light of hope and beauty blended,
 Light of joy and sadness too,—
Melody has never ended,
 Since my ear first bowed to you.

Gentle lady, you may wonder,
 Why I wish to list again
To those tones which seem to sunder
 Ties of earth. O I would fain,
Still on wings of fancy soaring,
 Yield my heart, my ear, my eye,
To your voice, your gift adoring,
 Yes, adoring till I die.

Gentle lady, you are holding
 Mystic keys to thrill the soul,
Finer hues of thought unfolding,
 Charming me beyond control;