Five Songs

Thou didst delight my eyes:
Yet who am I? nor first
Nor last nor best, that durst
Once dream of thee for prize;
Nor this the only time
Thou shalt set love to rhyme.

Thou didst delight my ear:
Ah! little praise; thy voice
Makes other hearts rejoice,
Makes all ears glad that hear;
And short my joy; but yet,
O song, do not forget.

For what were thou to me?
How shall I say? The moon,
That poured her midnight noon
Upon his wrecking sea; -
A sail, that for a day
Has cheered the castaway.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

O my darling how shall I give you 
 thanks enough for any song 
Beauty God has showed me 
 Time the strong shall not destroy 
  All annoy 
All evil things may grieve you 
 pass away to comfort leave you. 

Were the throats of all the singing birds 
 of April mine to say 
All the thoughts of wonder 
 crowding my adoring heart today 
  even they 
Flying to you and bringing 
 Love of mine would rest silently clinging.

Red roses floating in a crystal bowl
You bring, O love; and in your eyes I see,
Blossom on blossom, your warm love of me
Burning within your crystal soul--
Red roses floating in a crystal bowl. 

What happy mortal sees that mountain now,
The white cascade that's shining on its brow;

The white cascade that's both a bird and star,
That has a ten-mile voice and shines as far?

Though I may never leave this land again,
Yet every spring my mind must cross the main

To hear and see that water-bird and star
That on the mountain sings, and shines so far.