Remembered Music

A FRAGMENT

Thick-rushing, like an ocean vast

  Of bisons the far prairie shaking,

The notes crowd heavily and fast

As surfs, one plunging while the last

  Draws seaward from its foamy breaking.

Or in low murmurs they began,

  Rising and rising momently,

As o'er a harp AEolian

A fitful breeze, until they ran

  Up to a sudden ecstasy.

And then, like minute-drops of rain

  Ringing in water silvery,

They lingering dropped and dropped again,

Till it was almost like a pain

  To listen when the next would be.