Classic Poem

A schoolboy lay one night a-bed
— Under his window wide,
When dusk is lovelier than day
— In the high summertide;

The jasmin neath the casement throng'd
— Its ivory stars abloom;
With freaking peas and mignonette
— Their perfume fill'd the room:

Across the garden and beyond
— He look'd out on the skies,
And through black elmen boughs afar
— Watch'd where the moon should rise:

A warm rain fed the thirsty earth,
— Drops patter'd from the eaves
And from the tall trees as the shower
— Fell lisping on their leaves:

His heart was full, and pleasant thoughts
— Made music in his mind,
Like separate songs of birds, that are
— By general joy combined.

It seem'd the hour had gather'd up
— For every sense a bliss
To crown the faith of all desire
— With one assuaging kiss;

So that he fought with sleep to hold
— The rapture while he might,
Lest it should sink and drowning die
— Into the blank of night;

Nor kenn'd it was no passing thing
— Nor ever should be pass'd
But with him bide a joy to be
— As long as Life should last.

For though young thoughts be quite forgone,
— The pleasure of their dream
Can mesh them in its living mood
— And draw them in the stream:

So I can fancy when I will
— That there I lie intent
To hear the gentle whispering rain
— And drink the jasmin scent:

And then there sounds a distant tread
— Of men, that night who strode
Along the highway step by step
— Approaching down the road,

A company of three or four
— That hastening home again
After a Sabbath holiday
— Came talking in the rain:

Aloof from all my world and me
— They pass aneath the wall,
Till voice and footstep die away
— And into silence fall:

Into the maze of my delight
— Those blind intruders walk;
And ever I wonder who they be
— And of what things they talk.