Poem by Gerald Massey

The Singer

UP out of the Corn the Lark caroll'd in light,
Like a new splendour sprung from the dark husk of Night,
Green light shimmer'd laughing o'er forest and sod;
The rich sky was full of the presence of God,
As with brave careless rapture he lavisht around
Rare violet fancies and rose-leaves of sound:
All thro' the Morn's sun-city sea-like his psalm
With melodious waves dasht the bright world of calm:
BUT  HEAVILY  HUNG  THE  DROOPT  EARS  OF  THE  CORN:
THEY  WERE  GATHERING  GOLD  IN  THE  DEWY  MORN.

And he sang, as on heaven's fire-grains he had fed,
Till his heart's merry wine had made drunken his head.
How he sang! as his honey in Life's cells ne'er dwindled,
And bon-fires of Joy on all Life's hills were kindled:
O! he sang, as he felt that to singing was given
The magic to build rainbow-stairways to heaven!
And he could not have sung with more lusty cheer,
Had all the world listened a-tiptoe to hear!
ALL  THE  WHILE  HEAVILY  HUNG  THE  CORN,
AND  ITS  DROWSY  EARS  HEARD  NOT  THE  SWEETHEART  OF
       MORN.

1. The Chivalry of Labour
2. This World is Full of Beauty
3. Husband and Wife
4. The People's Advent
5. Eden

Eleanor Farjeon The Singer ("I had a holy hour last night")

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