Nature

Leonine Elegiacs

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809–1892

From Poetical Works (1899)

Nature

Low-flowing breezes are roaming the broad valley dimm'd in the gloaming:
Thro' the black-stemm'd pines only the far river shines.
Creeping thro' blossomy rushes and bowers of rose-blowing bushes,
Down by the poplar tall rivulets babble and fall.
Barketh the shepherd-dog cheerly; the grasshopper carolleth clearly;
Deeply the wood-dove coos; shrilly the owlet halloos;
Winds creep; dews fall chilly: in her first sleep earth breathes stilly:
Over the pools in the burn water-gnats murmur and mourn.
Sadly the far kine loweth: the glimmering water outfloweth:
Twin peaks shadow'd with pine slope to the dark hyaline.
Low-throned Hesper is stayed between the two peaks; but the Naiad
Throbbing in mild unrest holds him beneath in her breast.
The ancient poetess singeth, that Hesperus all things bringeth,
Smoothing the wearied mind: bring me my love, Rosalind.
Thou comest morning or even; she cometh not morning or even.
False-eyed Hesper, unkind, where is my sweet Rosalind?

MLA

Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. “Leonine Elegiacs.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tennyson/314/.

Chicago

Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. “Leonine Elegiacs.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tennyson/314/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Alfred, Lord Tennyson