PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

Higher still and higher

From the earth thou springest, Like a cloud of fire;

The blue deep thou wingest, And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.

In the golden lightening

Of the sunken sun, O'er which clouds are brightening,

Thou dost float and run, Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun.

The pale purple even

Melts around thy flight; Like a star of heaven,

In the broad daylight Thou art unseen, but yet I hear thy shrill delight

Keen as are the arrows

Of that silver sphere Whose intense lamp narrows

In the white dawn clear, Until we hardly see, we feel that it is there.

All the earth and air

With thy voice is loud, As, when night is bare,

From one lonely cloud The moon rains out her beams, and heaven is overflow'd.

What thou art we know not ;

What is most like thee ? From rainbow clouds there flow not

Drops so bright to see,

As from thy presence showers a rain of melody:

�� �