A soft, sweet tone like the violet’s song,
Or the lay of the waves as they glide along?
But no! it is sweeter than they, by far,
’Tis the spirit-strain of some wand’ring star.
But softer than music of star or sea,
Than dew drops’ murmur, or hum of the bee,
Than the tale of the brook, or the song of the bird,
Is the mystic spell of a gentle word;
It falls on the heart as a summer shower
On the fading leaves of the thirsting flower;