TO OUTER NATURE
Reading edition
Show thee as I thought thee When I early sought thee, Omen-scouting, All undoubting Love alone had wrought thee—
Wrought thee for my pleasure, Planned thee as a measure For expounding And resounding Glad things that men treasure.
O for but a moment Of that old endowment— Light to gaily See thy daily Irisèd embowment!
But such re-adorning Time forbids with scorning— Makes me see things Cease to be things They were in my morning.
Fad’st thou, glow-forsaken, Darkness-overtaken! Thy first sweetness, Radiance, meetness, None shall re-awaken.
Why not sempiternal Thou and I? Our vernal Brightness keeping, Time outleaping; Passed the hodiernal!