Expostulation, Addressed to a Lady who Suffered Despondency to Overcome her Love of Literary Pursuits

Minstrel of the pensive lyre!
     Wherefore sleeps thy harp so long?
Wake again its strings of fire—
     Pour anew thy witching song.
Lives with thee the power to bind
In the silken bonds of mind,
Hopes, and fears, and thoughts, and feelings,
All the spirit’s high revealings—
Thou canst chain them with a spell,
     In a bondage sweet and strong.
With the charm unspeakable
     Which abideth in thy song.

Maiden minstrel! can the thrush
     Be unmindful of her lay,
When upon the forests gush
     Glories of the rising day?
Can the lark with tuneful throat
Be oblivious of his note,
As he soars with tireless pinion
Upward to the cloud’s dominion,
Drinking in the beauties born
Of the rising mists of Morn,
As they catch the virgin ray
Streaming from the Fount of Day?

Can the harp by fairies kept,
     Viewless, in the wavy air,
By the wizard breezes swept,
     E’er forget its music there?
Can the song, that Zephyr weaves
Gaily in the forest leaves,
Cease its witching notes to fling
Out upon the Zephyr’s wing?
Can the stars that sung together
     When the Universe was born,
As they track the boundless ether,
     Watching for the golden dawn,
Hush the harmony, which erst
     From their spiritual lyres
Like a living torrent burst
     Echoing to Heaven’s choirs?

Can it be that one like thee,
Child of sweetest Poesy!
With a power to waken song
     Whose surpassing eloquence
     With a rapture most intense
Thrills the listener’s heart along
And the witchery knowing well
That in poets’ numbers dwell—
Still will keep thy harp unstrung
Idly on the willow hung?
Is an evil spell upon thee?
Hath despair for ever won thee?
Shutting glory from thine eyes,
Checking even the wish to rise?
Nay!—nor ever shall it be—
Deathless fame awaiteth thee!
Break the fetters which have bound thee
     In their icy thrall!
Up!—and friends shall crowd around thee
     Eager at thy call—
Let thy spirit never more
     At its lot repine,
For, the night of darkness o’er,
     Glory shall be thine!