The Voice
A SAINTLY Voice fell on my ear,
Out of the dewy atmosphere : —
“O hush, dear Bird of Night, be mute, —
Be still, O throbbing heart and lute ! ”
The Night-Bird shook the sparkling dew
Upon me as he ruffed and flew :
My heart was still, almost as soon,
My lute as silent as the moon :
I hushed my heart, and held my breath,
And would have died the death of death,
To hear — but just once more — to hear
That Voice within the atmosphere.
Out of the dewy atmosphere : —
“O hush, dear Bird of Night, be mute, —
Be still, O throbbing heart and lute ! ”
The Night-Bird shook the sparkling dew
Upon me as he ruffed and flew :
My heart was still, almost as soon,
My lute as silent as the moon :
I hushed my heart, and held my breath,
And would have died the death of death,
To hear — but just once more — to hear
That Voice within the atmosphere.
Again The Voice fell on my ear,
Out of the dewy atmosphere ! —
The same words, but half heard at first, —
I listened with a quenchless thirst;
And drank as of that heavenly balm,
The Silence that succeeds a psalm :
My soul to ecstasy was stirred : —
It was a Voice that I had heard
A thousand blissful times before ;
But deemed that I should hear no more
Till I should have a spirit’s ear,
And breathe another atmosphere !
Out of the dewy atmosphere ! —
The same words, but half heard at first, —
I listened with a quenchless thirst;
And drank as of that heavenly balm,
The Silence that succeeds a psalm :
My soul to ecstasy was stirred : —
It was a Voice that I had heard
A thousand blissful times before ;
But deemed that I should hear no more
Till I should have a spirit’s ear,
And breathe another atmosphere !
Then there was Silence in my ear,
And Silence in the atmosphere,
And silent moonshine on the mart,
And Peace and Silence in my heart:
But suddenly a dark Doubt said,
“ The fancy of a fevered head ! ”
A wild, quick whirlwind of desire
Then wrapt me as in folds of fire.
I ran the strange words o’er and o’er,
And listened breathlessly once more :
And lo, the third time I did hear
The same words in the atmosphere !
And Silence in the atmosphere,
And silent moonshine on the mart,
And Peace and Silence in my heart:
But suddenly a dark Doubt said,
“ The fancy of a fevered head ! ”
A wild, quick whirlwind of desire
Then wrapt me as in folds of fire.
I ran the strange words o’er and o’er,
And listened breathlessly once more :
And lo, the third time I did hear
The same words in the atmosphere !
They fell and died upon my ear,
As dew dies on the atmosphere ;
And then an intense yearning thrilled
My Soul, that all might be fulfilled :
“Where art thou, Blessed Spirit, where? —
Whose Voice is dew upon the air ! ”
I looked, around me, and above,
And cried aloud : “ Where art thou, Love ?
O let me see thy living eye,
And clasp thy living hand, or die ! ” —
Again upon the atmosphere
The self-same words fell: “I Am Here."
As dew dies on the atmosphere ;
And then an intense yearning thrilled
My Soul, that all might be fulfilled :
“Where art thou, Blessed Spirit, where? —
Whose Voice is dew upon the air ! ”
I looked, around me, and above,
And cried aloud : “ Where art thou, Love ?
O let me see thy living eye,
And clasp thy living hand, or die ! ” —
Again upon the atmosphere
The self-same words fell: “I Am Here."
“Here? Thou art here, Love! ” — “I Am Here."
The echo died upon my ear !
I looked around me — everywhere, —
But ah! there was no mortal there !
The moonlight was upon the mart,
And awe and wonder in my heart.
I saw no form ! — I only felt
Heaven’s Peace upon me as I knelt,
And knew a Soul Beatified
Was at that moment by my side : —
And there was Silence in my ear,
And Silence in the atmosphere !
The echo died upon my ear !
I looked around me — everywhere, —
But ah! there was no mortal there !
The moonlight was upon the mart,
And awe and wonder in my heart.
I saw no form ! — I only felt
Heaven’s Peace upon me as I knelt,
And knew a Soul Beatified
Was at that moment by my side : —
And there was Silence in my ear,
And Silence in the atmosphere !