Poem by Thomas Hood

Serenade

Ah, sweet, thou little knowest how
  I wake and passionate watches keep;
And yet while I address thee now,
  Methinks thou smilest in thy sleep.
'Tis sweet enough to make me weep,
  That tender thought of love and thee,
That while the world is hush'd so deep,
  Thy soul's perhaps awake to me!

Sleep on, sleep on, sweet bride of sleep!
  With golden visions of thy dower,
While I this midnight vigil keep,
  And bless thee in thy silent bower;
To me 'tis sweeter than the power
  Of sleep, and fairy dreams unfurl'd,
That I alone, at this still hour,
  In patient love outwatch the world.

1. The Departure of Summer
2. Ballad (She's up and gone, the graceless girl)
3. Stanzas (Is there a bitter pang for love removed)
4. The Two Peacocks of Bedfont
5. Written in Keats' “Endymion”

Arlo Bates Serenade ("While stars above thee glow")

Print

1766 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version