Page:Rosemary and Pansies.djvu/48

How wondrous did all things seem,
My soul how great its scope!
I wandered in a blessed dream,
Bathed in the light of hope;
A Paradise I found where'er
Were seen blue sky, green earth,
An angel was each maiden fair;
Fresh joys each hour had birth.

Rich in the alchemy of thought
Base metal tamed to gold;
Bright inspirations came unsought,
Earth all its secrets told:
I dwelt with saints and sages dead,
And made their raptures mine;
A luxury was common bread,
And water was as wine.

Shakespeare my master was and friend,
Shelley upon me smiled;
Burns did his fiery spirit lend
Keats ravished and beguiled:
I heard the minstrels of all time
One wondrous chorus singing,
Whose dominant recurrent rhyme
With lore and joy was ringing,

Too glowing was the fire, or I
Unworthy of its flame;
And now I shiver, faint and die,
Lost every noble aim:
The glorious palace of my soul
Is now a prison drear;
Darkly I burrow like a mole,
Ghostlike I linger here.

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