The Sunken City

HARK! the faint bells of the Sunken City
Peal once more their wonted evening-chime;

From the Deep's abysses floats a ditty,
Wild and wondrous, of the olden time.

Temples, towers, and domes of many stories

There lie buried in an ocean-grave,
"Undescried, save when their golden glories

Gleam, at sunset, through the lighted wave.

And the mariner who hath seen them glisten,
In whose ears those magic bells do sound,

Night by night bides there to watch and listen,
Though Death lurks behind each dark rock round.

So the bells of Memory's Wonder-city
Peal for me their old melodious chime:

So my heart pours forth a changeful ditty,
Sad and pleasant, from the by-gone time.

Domes, and towers, and castles, fancy-builded,
There lie lost to Daylight's garish beams,

There lie hidden, till unveiled and gilded,
Glory-gilded, by my nightly dreams!

And then hear I music sweet upknelling
From a many a well-known phantom-band,

And, through tears, can see my natural dwelling
Far off in the Spirit's luminous Land!