Harp of the winds! What music may compare
With thy wild gush of melody! — Or where,
'Mid this world's discords, may we hope to meet
Tones like to thine — so soothing and so sweet!

Harp of the winds! When Summer's Zephyr wings
Its airy flight across thy tremulous strings,
As if enamoured of its breath, they move
With soft low murmurs, — like the voice of Love
Ere passion deepens it, or sorrow mars
Its harmony with sighs! — All earthborn jars
Confess thy soothing power, when strains like these,
From thy bliss-breathing chords, are borne upon the breeze!

But when a more pervading force compels
Their sweetness into strength, — and swiftly swells
Each tenderer tone to fulness, — what a strange
And spirit-stirring sense that fitful change
Wakes in my heart — visions of days long past, —
Hope — joy — pride — pain — and passion — with the blast,
Come rushing on my soul, — till I believe
Some strong enchantment, purposed to deceive
Hath fixed its spell upon me, and I grieve
I may not burst its bonds! — Anon, the gale
Softly subsides, — and whisperings wild prevail,
Of inarticulate melody, which seem
Not music, but its shadow; — what a dream
Is to reality; — or as the swell
(Those who have felt alone have power to tell)
Of the full heart, where love was late a guest,
Ere it recovers from its sweet unrest! —
The charm is o'er! — Each warring thought flits by! —
Quelled by that more than mortal minstrelsy,
Each turbulent feeling owns its sweet controul,
And peace, once more, returns, and settles on my soul!

Harp of the winds! Thy ever tuneful chords,
In language far more eloquent than words
Of earth's best skilled philosophers, do teach
A deep and heavenly lesson! Could it reach,
With its impressive truths the heart of man,
Then were he blessed indeed; and he might scan
His coming miseries with delight! The storm
Of keen adversity would then deform
No more the calm stream of his thoughts, nor bring
Its wonted " grisly train;" but, rather wring
Sweetness from out his grief, — till even the string
On which his sorrows hung, should make reply,
However rudely swept, in tones of melody!