Inspiration

Today I had a strange experience— And yet I feel it is a common one: I felt a song so very beautiful It left me stricken—I was blind and dumb, And strained my inner ear to catch some word ... One arm was mutely flung across my face Lest some fragment of breath might shatter there The precious fabric in that holy place!

Still as the pools that in the forest wait To catch reflection of a star—too late To hold the magic of its radiant light Within some dim and lonely depth at night, Trembling, from one blanched cheek I brushed a tear. A gentle whisper then I seemed to hear: "To hear a song, see beauty, this is well; To feel it, leaves a mark indelible."