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THE sun is warm, the sky is clear, The waves are dancing fast and bright, Blue isles and snowy mountains wear The purple noon's transparent might: The breath of the moist earth is light 5 Around its unexpanded buds; Like many a voice of one delight— The winds', the birds', the ocean-floods'— The city's voice itself is soft like solitude's. I see the deep's untrampled floor 10 With green and purple seaweeds strown; I see the waves upon the shore Like light dissolved in star-showers thrown. I sit upon the sands alone; The lightning of the noontide ocean 15 Is flashing round me, and a tone Arises from its measured motion— How sweet, did any heart now share in my emotion! Alas! I have nor hope nor health, Nor peace within nor calm around; 20 Nor that content, surpassing wealth, The sage in meditation found, And walk'd with inward glory crown'd; Nor fame, nor power, nor love, nor leisure. Others I see whom these surround— 25 Smiling they live, and call life pleasure: To me that cup has been dealt in another measure. Yet now despair itself is mild, Even as the winds and waters are; I could lie down like a tired child, 30 And weep away the life of care Which I have borne, and yet must bear,— Till death like sleep might steal on me, And I might feel in the warm air My cheek grow cold, and hear the sea 35 Breathe o'er my dying brain its last monotony.
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