Songs of Experience

    Introduction

    Hear the voice of the Bard,
    Who present, past, and future, sees;
    Whose ears have heard
    The Holy Word
    That walked among the ancient trees;   

    Calling the lapsed soul,
    And weeping in the evening dew;
    That might control
    The starry pole,
    And fallen, fallen light renew!

    'O Earth, O Earth, return!
    Arise from out the dewy grass!
    Night is worn,
    And the morn
    Rises from the slumbrous mass.

    'Turn away no more;
    Why wilt thou turn away?
    The starry floor,
    The watery shore,
    Is given thee till the break of day.'

    Earth's Answer

    Earth raised up her head
    From the darkness dread and drear,
    Her light fled,
    Stony, dread,
    And her locks covered with grey despair.

    'Prisoned on watery shore,
    Starry jealousy does keep my den
    Cold and hoar;
    Weeping o'er,
    I hear the father of the ancient men.

    'Selfish father of men!
    Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!
    Can delight,
    Chained in night,
    The virgins of youth and morning bear.

    'Does spring hide its joy,
    When buds and blossoms grow?
    Does the sower
    Sow by night,
    Or the ploughman in darkness plough?

    'Break this heavy chain,
    That does freeze my bones around!
    Selfish, vain,
    Eternal bane,
    That free love with bondage bound.'