CLXXXVI

How does that music hit my ear so well?

How does it grace me with that gentle hand?

Caress my soul, sweet songbird, sing and swell

the miracle you make me understand.

You sing for me an answer no-one knows,

and do it kindly, like a featherfall.

A melody that, willow-driven, blows

through every memory I can recall.

There’s people, too. How do you know their names?

The ones I’ve loved, and loved, and loved again.

They picture in my mind in pleasant frames

as perfect as they were when they were then.

O, sing again, I’ll put you on repeat,

while all my yearnings yearn to be complete.