Poems (Kemble)/Impromptu (You say you're glad I write—oh, say not so)

by Frances Anne Kemble

For works with similar titles, see Impromptu.

IMPROMPTU.

You say you're glad I write—oh, say not so!
 My fount of song, dear friend, 's a bitter well;
And when the numbers freely from it flow,
 Tis that my heart, and eyes, o'erflow as well.

Castalia, fam'd of yore,—the spring divine,
 Apollo's smile upon its current wears:
Moore and Anacreon, found its waves were wine,
 To me, it flows a sullen stream of tears.