Poems (Commelin)/The Melody

by Anna Olcott Commelin

THE MELODY.

     Oh, solemnly and slow
    Those deep, bass notes are sounding,
    Those deep, bass notes are sounding,
     So solemnly and slow:
    While harsher chords revealing
    Sad dissonance of feeling,
With wail, like miserere, follow the music low.

     But list! above the strain,
    In clearest, liquid sweetness,
    In clearest, liquid sweetness,
     Far up above the strain
    An angel voice is singing,
    A melody is ringing:
On spirit wings our souls to heaven mount with its pure refrain.

     How like it is to life!
    The solemn music throbbing,
    The solemn music throbbing,
     How like it is to life!
    With chords of sadness thrilling,
    With dissonances filling
Our souls with wail of sorrow, with mortal anguish rife.

     But catch the strain above,
    Sweet strain divine and holy,
    Sweet strain divine and holy,
     Ah, catch that strain above!
    One joy receiving, giving,
    Makes all life has in living,
The melody we hear through all, sweet strain of human love!