Page:Preludes, Meynell, 1875.djvu/21

 TO A POET.

who singest through the earth,

All the earth's wild creatures fly thee.

Everywhere thou marrest mirth.

Dumbly they defy thee.

There is something they deny thee.

Pines thy fallen nature ever

For the unfallen Nature sweet.

But she shuns thy long endeavour,

Though her flowers and wheat

Throng and press thy pausing feet.

Though thou tame a bird to love thee,

Press thy face to grass and flowers,

All these things reserve above thee

Secrets in the bowers,

Secrets in the sun and showers.