Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Sentiment: V. The Arts | | The Spell | | Paul Verlaine (1844–1896) |
| | From the French by Gertrude Hall | | “Son joyeux, importun, d’un clavecin sonore.” |
| —PÉTRUS BOREL. |
|
|
THE KEYBOARD, over which two slim hands float, | |
| Shines vaguely in the twilight pink and gray, | |
| Whilst with a sound like wings, note after note | |
| Takes flight to form a pensive little lay | |
| That strays, discreet and charming, faint, remote, | 5 |
| About the room where perfumes of Her stray. | |
| |
| What is this sudden quiet cradling me | |
| To that dim ditty’s dreamy rise and fall? | |
| What do you want with me, pale melody? | |
| What is it that you want, ghost musical, | 10 |
| That fades toward the window waveringly, | |
| A little open on the garden small? | | | |
|
|
|
