Select Poetry.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 46, 9 December 1871, Page 18

Select Poetry.

MUSIC. Music, music, softly stealing O’er my senses, like a dream Of some half-forgotten gladness ; Like a wave from memory’s stream. Swelling o’er my soul, and flooding Every sense with deep delight, Making joy seem yet more joyous, Brightening sorrow’s darkest night. Upborne on thy gladsome pinions, Through bright fancy’s realms I stray, Years of sadness all forgotten, Happy, happy as the day ; Or in dreamy reveries floating, As on billows of sweet sound, Of all earthly things unconscious, Sailing o’er enchanted ground. Music, music, I have heard thee With a bliss that’s almost pain, Thou hast been my life’s one blessing, Let me hear thee once again, Bringing thoughts of sweet spring breezes, Bustling leaves, sun-chequered shades, Murmuring sounds of many waters, Echoing through deep forest glades. And oh may’st thou linger round me, With thy softest, sweetest breath, When I tremble on the borders Of the shadow-land of Death. See, within his lonely chamber, Lies the poet— weary, faint, Though Death’s hand lies heavy on him, Listen to his murmuring plaint: « Oh give me music—for I cannot die 11 Until those lovely sounds once again I hear. “Yet I am weary, and my heart is sick “ With suffering—keep me notlingering here: “ But let sweet music come on angels wing, “ With gentlehand to part the golden thread, « And my freed soul shall speed torealms of light, “ With music evermore encompassed. i'. oh give me music—for mine hours of bliss “Were buthalf joyful if she were not there ; “ And in my darkest hour, no spell, like hers, “ Could lull me to forgetfulness of pare. « ’Twas her sweet breath inspired my poet soul “ With all its loftiest dreams, its visions high “ Of all things pure, and true, and beautiful, « Then give me music,—music, ere I die.”