The Poet's Life

A poet sang, so light of heart was he,

A song that thrilled with joy in ev'ry word:

It quiver'd with ecstatic melody;

It laughed as sunshine laughs upon the sea;

It caught a measure from each lilting bird;

But, though the song rang out exultantly,

The world pass'd by, with heavy step and loud,

None heeding, save that, parted from the crowd,

Two lovers heard.

There fell a day when sudden sorrow smote

The poet's life. Unheralded it came,

Blotting the sun-touch'd page whereon he wrote

His golden song. Ah! then, from all remote,

He sang the grief that had nor hope nor name

In God's ear only; but one sobbing note

Reached the world's heart, and swiftly, in the wake

Of bitterness and passionate heart-break,

There follow'd fame.