In a Wood / Coventry Patmore

In a Wood

'Twas when the spousal time of May
     Hangs all the hedge with bridal wreaths,
And air's so sweet the bosom gay
     Gives thanks for every breath it breathes,
When like to like is gladly moved,
     And each thing joins in Spring's refrain,
"Let those love now who never loved;
     Let those who have loved love again;"
That I, in whom the sweet time wrought,
     Lay stretch'd within a lonely glade,
Abandon'd to delicious thought
     Beneath the softly twinkling shade.
The leaves, all stirring, mimick'd well
     A neighbouring rush of rivers cold,
And, as the sun or shadow fell,
     So these were green and those were gold;
In dim recesses hyacinths droop'd,
     And breadths of primrose lit the air,
Which, wandering through the woodland, stoop'd
     And gather'd perfumes here and there;
Upon the spray the squirrel swung,
     And careless songsters, six or seven,
Sang lofty songs the leaves among,
     Fit for their only listener, Heaven.

~~

Coventry Patmore (1823-1896)

from Florilegium Amantis, 1879

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

Coventry Patmore bibliography