XVII Written at Rossana August 1797
XVII
Written at Rossana
August 1797 [1]
Dear Chesnut Bower, I hail thy secret shade,
Image of tranquil life! escap'd yon throng
Who weave the dance, and swell the choral song
And all the summer's day have wanton play'd,
I bless thy kindly gloom in silence laid:5
What, tho' no prospects gay to thee belong,
Yet here I heed nor showers, nor sunbeams strong,
Which they, whose perfum'd tresses roses braid,
Dispersing fear. Their sunny bank more bright,
And on their circled green more sweets abound,10
Yet the rude blasts, which rend their vestments light,
O'er these dark boughs with harmless music sound,
And tho' no lively pleasures here are found,
Yet shall no sudden storms my calm retreat affright.
Notes
[1] EDITOR'S NOTE: "Written at Rossana August 1797" is printed in Psyche, with Other Poems (undated); the illustration depicts the famous chestnut trees at Rossana (in 2009 the Tree Council of Ireland identified the Sweet/Spanish Chestnut or John Wesley Tree at Rosanna as a champion tree). BACK
