Songs of Experience

Introduction

Hear the voice of the Bard!; Who Present, Past, & Future sees,; Whose ears have heard; The Holy Word; That walk'd among the ancient trees,; Calling the lapsed Soul,; And weeping in the evening dew,; That might controll; The starry pole,; And fallen, fallen light renew!; 'O Earth, O Earth return!; Arise from the dewy grass;; Night is worn,; And the morn; Rises from slumberous mass.; 'Turn away no more.; Why wilt thou turn away?; The starry floor,; The wat'ry shore,; Is giv'n thee till the break of day.'

Earth rais'd up her head; From the darkness dread & drear.; Her light fled:; Stony dread!; And her locks cover'd with grey despair.; 'Prison'd on wat'ry shore; Starry Jealousy does keep my den; Cold and hoar; weeping o'er; I hear the father of the ancient men.; 'Selfish father of men!; Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!; Can delight,; Chain'd in night,; The virgins of youth and morning bear?; 'Does spring hide its joy; When buds and blossoms grow?; Does the sower; Sow by night?; Or plowman in darkness plow?; 'Break this heavy chain; That does freeze my bones around.; Selfish! vain!; Eternal bane!; That free love with bondage bound.'