Sorrowful Music.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue X, 9 March 1901, Page 437

Sorrowful Music.

Give me music, or I die: Music, wherein Sorrow’s cry Is a sweet, aerial sigh— Where Despair is harmony. Give me music, such as winds To the ambushed grief, and finds Clews of soft-eritiefngr sound. Notes that soothe and cannot wound, Leading with a tender care Outward into brighter air; Music which, with welcome pain, Melted from the master's brain. When his sorrow, freed from smart, Laid his head upon his heart. And the measure, broken, slow— Shed with tears In mingled HowAll its mighty secret spake And it slept; it will not wake. Give me music, sad and strong. Drawn from deeper founts than Song; More impassioned, full, and free Than the Poet’s numbers be: Music which can master thee, Stern enchantress, Memory! Piercing through the gloomy stress Of thy gathered bitterness, As the summer lightnings play Through a cloud’s edge far away. Give me music; I am dumb, Choked 1 with tears that'never come. Give me music; sigh or word Such a sorrow never stirred— Sorrow that with blinding pain Lies like Are on heart and brain. Barth and Heaven bring no relief; I am dumb; this weight of grief . w Locks my lips; I cannot cry; . Give me music, or I die. J r ’•>ip j \ BAYARD TAYLOR. .