Fancy and the Poet

Poet -- Enchanting spirit! -- at thy votive shrine I lowly bend a simple wreath to twine; O Come from the ideal world and fling Thy airy fingers o'er my rugged string; Sweep the dark chords of thought and give to earth The thrilling song that tells thy heavenly birth -- Fancy -- Happiness when from earth she fled I passed on her heavenward flight -- "Take this crown," the spirit said "Of heaven's own golden light -- To the sons of sorrow the token give, And bid them follow my steps and live!" -- I took the crown from the snowy hand, It flashed like a living star; I turned this dark earth to a fairy land When I hither drive my car; But I placed the crown round my tresses bright, And man only saw its reflected light -- Many a lovely dream I've given, And many a song divine; But never! -- oh never -- that gift of heaven Shall mortals temples twine -- Hope and love in the circlet glow! 'Tis all too bright for a world of woe -- Poet -- Hist -- Beautiful spirit! -- why silent so soon? My ear drinks each word of thy magical tune; My lyre owns thy touch -- and its tremulous strings Vibrate beneath the soft play of thy wings; Resume thy sweet lay, and reveal, ere we part Thy home lovely spirit -- and say what thou art?" -- Fancy -- The gleam of a star thou cans't not see -- Of an eye 'neath its sleeping lid, The sound of a far off melody The voice of a stream that's hid; Such must I still remain to thee A wonder and a mystery! -- I live in the poet's dream I flash on the painter's eye; I dwell in the moon's pale beam, In the depths of the star lit sky; I traverse the earth, the air, the main, And bind young hearts in my magic chain -- I float on the fleecy cloud My voice is in ev'ry breeze; I speak in the tempest loud, In the sigh of the waving trees -- To the sons of earth -- in a mystic tone, I tell of a world more bright than their own! --