Letting the merry music stray
In flirt of leaf, and flirt of wing
All along a sunny way
Intermits sweet bubbling
Loveliness is come, and gone,
And scarce was even looked upon!

Golden chime, and silver chime!
Silver laughter, golden joy!
Happy song, not come to rhyme!
Lovely thought, that words annoy!
Comes the dream of living — and
Vanished is Fairy-land!

Who has drunk an air that shone,
Or breathed on a note of gold,
Has seen them disappearing on
The lip that took, the lip that told:
While — life danced on in careless way,
Letting the merry music stray!