Wonder I must, what I once may see Over the lofty mountains! Eyes shall meet only snow, may be; Standing here, each evergreen tree Over the heights is yearning;-- Will it be long in learning? Pinions strong bear the eagle away Over the lofty mountains Forth to the young and vigorous day; There he exults in the swift, wild play, Rests where his spirit orders,-- Sees all the wide world's borders. Full-leaved the apple-tree wishes naught Over the lofty mountains! Spreading, when summer hither is brought, Waiting till next time in its thought; Many a bird it is swinging, Knowing not what they are singing. He who has longed for twenty years Over the lofty mountains, He who knows that he never nears, Smaller feels with the lapsing years, Heeds what the bird is singing Cheerily to its swinging. Garrulous bird, what will you here Over the lofty mountains? Surely your nest was there less drear, Taller the trees, the outlook clear;-- Will you then only bring me Longings, but naught to wing me? Shall I then never, never go Over the lofty mountains? Shall to my thoughts this wall say,--No! Stand with terror of ice and snow, Barring the way unwended, Coffin me when life is ended? Out will I! Out!--Oh, so far, far, far, Over the lofty mountains! Here is this cramping, confining bar, Baffling my thoughts, that so buoyant are;-- Lord! Let me try the scaling, Suffer no final failing! _Sometime_ I know I shall rise and soar Over the lofty mountains. Hast Thou already ajar Thy door?-- Good is Thy home! Yet, Lord, I implore, Hold not the gates asunder,-- Leave me my longing wonder! THE DAY OF SUNSHINE (FROM ARNE) It was such a lovely sunshine-day, The house and the yard couldn't hold me; I roved to the woods, on my back I lay, In cradle of fancy rolled me; But there were ants, and gnats that bite, The horse-fly was keen, the wasp showed fight. "Dear me, don't you want to be out in this fine weather?" --said mother, who sat on the steps and sang. It was such a lovely sunshine-day, The house and the yard couldn't hold me; A meadow I found, on my back I lay, And sang what my spirit told me; Then snakes came crawling, a fathom long, To bask in the sun,--I fled with my song. "In such blessed weather we can go barefoot,"--said mother, as she pulled off her stockings. It was such a lovely sunshine-day, The house and the yard couldn't hold me; I loosened a boat, on my back I lay, While blithely the current bowled me; But hot grew the sun, and peeled my nose; Enough was enough, and to land I chose. "Now these are just the days to make hay in,"-- said mother, as she stuck the rake in it. It was such a lovely sunshine-day, The house and the yard couldn't hold me; I climbed up a tree, oh, what bliss to play, As cooling the breeze consoled me; But worms soon fell on my neck, by chance, And jumping, I cried: "'T is the Devil's own dance!"