Stanzas ("The songs she sung")

“Why will you never listen to an Irish melody?”--Query in a
Ball-room.

The songs she sung--the songs she sung!
How many a sigh they stole!
Oh! there be lutes as sweetly strung,
But none with half the soul
That dwelt in every silver tone
She drew from each sweet string:
Oh! no,--the songs she made her own
I will not hear them sing!

The songs she sung--the songs she sung!
How few and faint the words
Of praise that fell whene’er she flung
Her fingers o’er the chords;
No plaudit followed when the strain
Died on the quivering air,
But tears were gushing forth like rain,
And lips were quivering there!

The songs she sung--the songs she sung!
Long, grieving years are fled,
Earth’s yearnings from the heart are flung,
Earth’s hopes are with the dead;
And worldly wrongs--forgot--forgiven--
Sleep in Death’s second birth;
But I would only hear in Heaven
The songs she gave to earth!