The Desire

What time the dawn of June soft beams

Athwart the northern hills,

And scents the dewy grass that gleams

By many a hundred rills.

When bright-eyed birds are warbling sweet,

Among the clouds the morn to greet:

Then - O remember and prepare

To meet my eager spirit there!

When o'er the world the glowing rays

Of August's sun are shining,

And flickering fine the mossy ways,

Where the beeches are entwining.

Where low sonorous monotone

Of lovers' vow is heard alone:

Then - O remember and prepare

To meet my ardent spirit there!

When the days is dying on the sea,

In mantle red and gold,

Illumining the purple lea,

And all the mystic voices of the night

Give forth a chant of wild delight:

Then - O remember and prepare

To meet my joyous spirit there!

When dew lies heavy on the leaf

Of many a folded rose,

And bright the bound-up barley sheaf

'Neath vivid moonlight glows;

When all around is hushed and still.

With Vesper shining o'er the hill

Then - O remember and prepare

To meet my happy spirit there!

But when the darkling day goes down,

All mist and rain to-night,

And nature, with a mocking frown,

In mystery finds delight;

When wailing winds from earth and sea

Cry out in dire extremity:

Then - O remember and prepare

To soothe my weary spirit there!

[This is the ninth of Jane Paxton Smieton's Poems & Ballads of 1891]