Entangled

I STOOD as one enchanted, All in the forest deep: As one that wond'ring wanders, Dream-bound within his sleep. A thousand rustling footsteps Pattered upon the ground; A thousand whisp'ring voices Made the wide silence, sound. Some murmured deep and deeper, Like waves in solemn seas; Some breathèd sweet and sweeter, Like elves on moon-lit leas. Tall ferns, washed down in sunlight, Beckoned with fingers green; Tall flowers nodded strangely, With white and glimm'ring sheen; They sighed, they sang so softly, They stretched their arms to me; My heart, it throbbed so wildly, In weird tumultuous glee. I staggered in the mosses, It seemed to drag me down Into the gleaming bushes; To fall, to sink, to drown. When lo! thro' scared foliage, A lovely bird did fly; And looked at me so knowing, With bright and curious eye; It broke out into warbles, And singing sped away; But I, like one awakened, Fled down the mossy way.