NOON

Charmed into silence lay

The forest, dimly lit;

No wind that summer day

Moved the least leaf of it;

No choric branches stirred

Its calm profound and deep,

Nor voice of any bird,

But silence dreamed like sleep.

Like dew upon the grass

It fell upon my soul,

Loosed it to soar, and pass

Beyond the stars’ control.

Vague memories it woke,

Shapes far too frail for touch;

And then the silence broke,

Lest I should learn too much.