Forest Voices

The forest hath its voices,
Whose sweetness aye rejoices,
Or soothes the spirit wondrously ;
Borne on their leafy wings,
They tell of quiet things
And mingle in strange harmony.

There is a murmuring song,
A cadence soft and long,
Evoking dreams of still delight ;
There is a clarion note,
Whose blithesome echoes float,
Chasing the darkling spells of grief and night.

There is a whispering sound
Within the forest-bound,
Telling the heart of things unseen ;
That nameless holy thrill
Passeth o'er vale and hill
And through the dark and lone ravine.

It is a harp sublime
With ever-varying chime,
Awakening feelings ever new ;
For, tuned by Him who made
The all-harmonious shade,
Each forest-voice is sweet and true.