Poems (Meynell, 1921)/The Love of Narcissus

by Alice Meynell

For other versions of this work, see The Love of Narcissus.

 

A POET'S FANCIES

I

THE LOVE OF NARCISSUS

LIKE him who met his own eyes in the river,
The poet trembles at his own long gaze
That meets him through the changing nights and days
From out great Nature; all her waters quiver
With his fair image facing him for ever;
The music that he listens to betrays
His own heart to his ears; by trackless ways
His wild thoughts tend to him in long endeavour.

His dreams are far among the silent hills;
His vague voice calls him from the darkened plain
With winds at night; strange recognition thrills
His lonely heart with piercing love and pain;
He knows again his mirth in mountain rills,
His weary tears that touch him with the rain.