Poem by Robert Seymour Bridges

Shorter Poems. Book IV. 19. Anniversary

What is sweeter than new-mown hay,
Fresher than winds o’er-sea that blow,
Innocent above children’s play,
Fairer and purer than winter snow,
Frolic as are the morns of May?
  —If it should be what best I know!

What is richer than thoughts that stray
From reading of poems that smoothly flow?
What is solemn like the delay
Of concords linked in a music slow
Dying thro’ vaulted aisles away?
  —If it should be what best I know!

What gives faith to me when I pray,
Setteth my heart with joy aglow,
Filleth my song with fancies gay,
Maketh the heaven to which I go,
The gladness of earth that lasteth for aye?
  —If it should be what best I know!

But tell me thou—’twas on this day
That first we loved five years ago—
If ’tis a thing that I can say,
  Though it must be what best we know.

1. Shorter Poems. Book V. 15. “The north wind came up yesternight”
2. Shorter Poems. Book II. 8. Spring. Ode I
3. Shorter Poems. Book III. 1. “O My Vague Desires!”
4. Shorter Poems. Book IV. 23. “The storm is over, the land hushes to rest”
5. Shorter Poems. Book IV. 30. Laus Deo

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