"The Way Thou Singest"

The Way Thou Singest

Ah, I have heard a meadow-lark 

Sing o’er the growing corn 

In notes of passion and desire, 

At early primrose morn― 

So full and rich and sweet, 

My heart with rapture beat, 

And for remembered years 

Up sprang the tears. . . .

And here―and now― 

So singest thou! 

And I have heard―and seen―the notes 

Of a brief summer rain 

Burst into sudden, lyric gold 

Upon my window-pane― 

When sunset’s lucent flame 

For one sweet instant came― 

Born of the rain’s desire 

And the sunset’s fire. . . .

And here―and now― 

So singest thou! 

I dreamed I heard an angel sing 

With rapt and lifted eyes; 

With marvel in his voice and look 

And in his heart surprise 

That the angels leaned from sleep 

To hear and bow and weep, 

Thinking of ones loved so 

On earth below. . . .

And here―and now―

So singest thou! 

"The Way Thou Singest" as it appears in Ella Higginson's When the Birds Go North Again (1898).