AH, often do I wait and watch, br And look up, straining through the Real br With longing eyes, my friend, to catch br Faint glimpses of your white Ideal. br br I know she loved to rest her feet br By slumbrous seas and hidden strand; br But mostly hints of her I meet br On moony spots of mountain land. br br I’ve never reached her shining place, br And only cross at times a gleam; br As one might pass a fleeting face br Just on the outside of a Dream. br br But you may climb, her happy Choice! br She knows your step, the maiden true, br And ever when she hears your voice, br She turns and sits and waits for you. br br How sweet to rest on breezy crest br With such a Love, what time the Morn br Looks from his halls of rosy rest, br Across green miles of gleaming corn! br br How sweet to find a leafy nook, br When bees are out, and Day burns mute, br Where you may hear a passion’d brook br Play past you, like a mellow flute! br br Or, turning from the sunken sun, br On fields of dim delight to lie— br To close your eyes and muse upon br The twilight’s strange divinity! br br Or through the Night’s mysterious noon, br While Sound lies hushed among the trees, br To sit and watch a mirror’d moon br Float over silver-sleeping seas! br br Oh, vain regret! why should I stay br To think and dream of joys unknown? br You walk with her from day to day, br I faint afar off—and alone.