On the sky with liquid openings of Blue,
The slanting pillar of sun mist,
Field-inward flew a little Bird.
Pois'd himself on the column,
Sang with a sweet and marvellous voice, 5
Adieu! adieu!
I must away, Far, far away,
Set off to-day.
2
Listened—listened—gaz'd—
Sight of a Bird, sound of a voice— 10
It was so well with me, and yet so strange.
Heart! Heart!
Swell'st thou with joy or smart?
But the Bird went away—
Adieu! adieu! 15
3
All cloudy the heavens falling and falling—
Then said I—Ah! summer again—
The swallow, the summer-bird is going,
And so will my Beauty fall like the leaves
From my pining for his absence, 20
And so will his Love fly away.
Away! away!
Like the summer-bird,
Swift as the Day.
4
But lo! again came the slanting sun-shaft, 25
Close by me pois'd on its wing,
The sweet Bird sang again,
And looking on my tearful Face
Did it not say,
'Love has arisen, 30
True Love makes its summer,
In the Heart'?
1845