Metrical tales, and other poems; - Electric Scotland

176 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
THE POET'S MISSION.
^yHE spoke, and passed from vision
^% To some celestial zone,
jWhile silent stood the poet,
As statue cut in stone,
Until within the valley
He found himself alone.
Then rose his voice in rapture,
The woods and rocks among,
" Sweet Goddess, I believe thee!
Why did I doubt so long ?
Sweet mission, I receive thee.
Henceforth my task is song! "
And he sang, and singeth ever.
Sings in pleasure, sings in pain.
Watching, waiting for the glory
Must he always wait in vain
Promised by the fleeting vision
Which inspired his youthful strain.
THE PORT'S KINGDOM.
NEVEE am lonely, the muse is my friend,
And thousands of fancies my footsteps attend,
That people the moments, which toil leaves to spare,
With countless creations unspeakably fair.
I cannot feel poor, for my kingdom is spread
Beneath me, around me, and over my head ;
I've cornfields and vineyards, rich meadows and streams.
And rule, without rival, my kingdom of dreams.