Shut close the door; press down the latch; Nor lose ten tickings of thy watch But who is He, with modest looks, He is retired as noontide dew, And The outward shows of sky and earth, In common things that round us lie That broods and sleeps on his own heart. But he is weak; both Man and Boy, The things which others understand. -Come hither in thy hour of strength; CXVIII IN these fair vales hath many a Tree 1799 1830 CXIX I WATCH, and long have watched, with calm regret Yon slowly-sinking star-immortal Sire (So might he seem) of all the glittering quire! Blue ether still surrounds him—yet—and yet But now the horizon's rocky parapet Is reached, where, forfeiting his bright attire, To the flying moments, and is seen no more. Depressed; and then extinguished; and our state, CXX My heart leaps up when I behold So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man ; So be it when I shall grow old, The Child is father of the Man; CXXI ODE: INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD I THERE was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth, and every common sight, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, The glory and the freshness of a dream. Turn wheresoe'er I By night or day, yore ; may, The things which I have seen I now can see no more. II The Rainbow comes and goes, And lovely is the Rose, The Moon doth with delight Look round her when the heavens are bare, Waters on a starry night Are beautiful and fair; The sunshine is a glorious birth; But yet I know, where'er I go, That there hath past away a glory from the earth. III Now, while the birds thus sing a joyous song, To me alone there came a thought of grief: The cataracts blow their trumpets from the steep; Give themselves up to jollity, And with the heart of May Doth every Beast keep holiday;— Shout round me, let me hear thy shouts, thou happy IV Ye blessed Creatures, I have heard the call The heavens laugh with you in your jubilee; My head hath its coronal, The fulness of your bliss, I feel-I feel it all. |