While the bright sounds are lifted up to spring
Beyond this tide of being,
Shadows and sense far fleeing
Into a shadow deeper than the Ocean
When passes all the mind’s commotion
To a serener sky, a mighty calm emotion !
- The whole world fades, folds over its wide pinions
Into a darkness deeper than its own.
Silence hath shattered all the dream-dominions
Of life and light: the grey bird’s soul is flown
Into a soundless night,
Lampless: a vivid flight
Beyond the thrones and stars of heaven down
hurled,
Till the great blackness heaves
An iron breast, and cleaves
The womb of night, another mightier world.
Lost is my soul, and faded
The light of life that braided
Its comet tresses into golden fire.
Fade, fade, the phantoms of desire !
Speed, speed the song of love upon the living lyre!
Lo! I abide not, and my lover's glory
Abides not: in the swaying of those tides
Gathers beneath some mighty promontory
One mightier wave, deep drowns it, and abides.
Save that one wave alone
Nought in the void is known,
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