The Old Road to Paradise/I Tell My Heart
I TELL MY HEART
I tell my heart, to hush her aching When we are sleeping, when we're waking, Of things we loved well, she and I, Upon a time that is gone by:
Heart, now the Spring comes there shall be A bright and blossoming apple-tree Against the window-light to swing Its thousand-petaled flowering; There is clear water, flickering green, With shining leaf-brown rocks between And silver fish that hide and dart Where we may play too, dear my heart; And there is sunlight's gold that lies Warmly on cheek and breast and eyes And little winds at even-star That slip from where the pine-trees are . . .And heart, remember how we heard At twilight once a wakened bird Whose notes flung out a silver net Against flame-rose, flame-violet!
Oh, heart, my heart, still can you lie Dumb while the wonder-spring goes by?
My heart is very young—some while Perhaps she may look up and smile.