The Skilful Listener

The skilful listener, he, methinks, may hear The grass blades clash in sunny field together, The roses kissing, and the lily, whether It joy or sorrow in the summer’s ear, The jewel dew-bells of the mead ring clear When morning lightly moves them in June weather, The flocked hours flitting by on stealthy feather, The last leaves’ wail at waning of the year. Haply, from these we catch a passing sound, (The best of verities, perchance, but seem) We overhear close Nature, on her round, When least she thinks it; bird and bough and stream Not only, but her silences profound, Surprised by softer footfall of our dream.