Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By RichardBurton

1353 The First Song

A POET writ a song of May

That checked his breath awhile;

He kept it for a summer day,

Then spake with half a smile:

“Oh, little song of purity,

Of mystic to-and-fro,

You are so much a part of me

I dare not let you go.”

And so he made a sister-song

With more of cunning art;

But held the first his whole life long

Deep hidden in his heart.