My Garden

My Garden

I have a garden in the city’s grimeWhere secretly my heart keeps summer time;Where blow such airs of rapture on my eyesAs those blest dreamers know in Paradise,Who after lives of longing come at lastWhere anguish of vain love is overpast.When the broad noon lies shadeless on the street,And traffic roars, and toilers faint with heat,Where men forget that ever woods were green,The wonders of my garden are not seen.Only at night the magic doors discloseIts labyrinths of lavender and rose;And honeysuckle, white beneath its moon,Whispers me softly thou art coming soon;And led by Love’s white hand upon my wristBeside its glimmering fountains I keep tryst.O Love, this moving fragrance on my hair,—Is it thy breath, or some enchanted airFrom far, uncharted realms of mysteryWhich I have dreamed of but shall never see?O Love, this low, wild music in my ears,Is it the heart-beat of thy hopes and fears,Or the faint cadence of some fairy songOn winds of boyhood memory blown along?O Love, what poignant ecstasy is thisUpon my lips and eyes? Thy touch,—thy kiss.

I have a garden in the city’s grimeWhere secretly my heart keeps summer time;Where blow such airs of rapture on my eyesAs those blest dreamers know in Paradise,Who after lives of longing come at lastWhere anguish of vain love is overpast.When the broad noon lies shadeless on the street,And traffic roars, and toilers faint with heat,Where men forget that ever woods were green,The wonders of my garden are not seen.Only at night the magic doors discloseIts labyrinths of lavender and rose;And honeysuckle, white beneath its moon,Whispers me softly thou art coming soon;And led by Love’s white hand upon my wristBeside its glimmering fountains I keep tryst.O Love, this moving fragrance on my hair,—Is it thy breath, or some enchanted airFrom far, uncharted realms of mysteryWhich I have dreamed of but shall never see?O Love, this low, wild music in my ears,Is it the heart-beat of thy hopes and fears,Or the faint cadence of some fairy songOn winds of boyhood memory blown along?O Love, what poignant ecstasy is thisUpon my lips and eyes? Thy touch,—thy kiss.

I have a garden in the city’s grimeWhere secretly my heart keeps summer time;

I have a garden in the city’s grime

Where secretly my heart keeps summer time;

Where blow such airs of rapture on my eyesAs those blest dreamers know in Paradise,

Where blow such airs of rapture on my eyes

As those blest dreamers know in Paradise,

Who after lives of longing come at lastWhere anguish of vain love is overpast.

Who after lives of longing come at last

Where anguish of vain love is overpast.

When the broad noon lies shadeless on the street,And traffic roars, and toilers faint with heat,

When the broad noon lies shadeless on the street,

And traffic roars, and toilers faint with heat,

Where men forget that ever woods were green,The wonders of my garden are not seen.

Where men forget that ever woods were green,

The wonders of my garden are not seen.

Only at night the magic doors discloseIts labyrinths of lavender and rose;

Only at night the magic doors disclose

Its labyrinths of lavender and rose;

And honeysuckle, white beneath its moon,Whispers me softly thou art coming soon;

And honeysuckle, white beneath its moon,

Whispers me softly thou art coming soon;

And led by Love’s white hand upon my wristBeside its glimmering fountains I keep tryst.

And led by Love’s white hand upon my wrist

Beside its glimmering fountains I keep tryst.

O Love, this moving fragrance on my hair,—Is it thy breath, or some enchanted air

O Love, this moving fragrance on my hair,—

Is it thy breath, or some enchanted air

From far, uncharted realms of mysteryWhich I have dreamed of but shall never see?

From far, uncharted realms of mystery

Which I have dreamed of but shall never see?

O Love, this low, wild music in my ears,Is it the heart-beat of thy hopes and fears,

O Love, this low, wild music in my ears,

Is it the heart-beat of thy hopes and fears,

Or the faint cadence of some fairy songOn winds of boyhood memory blown along?

Or the faint cadence of some fairy song

On winds of boyhood memory blown along?

O Love, what poignant ecstasy is thisUpon my lips and eyes? Thy touch,—thy kiss.

O Love, what poignant ecstasy is this

Upon my lips and eyes? Thy touch,—thy kiss.


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