A SONG OF THREE SINGERS

By William Watson

Wave and wind and willow-tree

Speak a speech that no man knoweth;

Tree that sigheth, wind that bloweth,

Wave that floweth to the sea:

Wave and wind and willow-tree.

Peerless perfect poets ye,

Singing songs all songs excelling,

Fine as crystal music dwelling

In a welling fountain free:

Peerless perfect poets three!

Wave and wind and willow-tree

Know not aught of poets’ rhyming,

Yet they make a silver-chiming

Sunward-climbing minstrelsy,

Soother than all songs that be.

Blows the wind it knows not why,

Flows the wave it knows not whither,

And the willow swayeth hither

Swayeth thither witlessly,

Nothing knowing save to sigh.