LOCH GAIR
1844.
The sweetest tones of nature's voice,
Thrilling the balmy air,
That ever made my heart rejoice,
Were heard by thee, Loch Gair.
The sweetest tones of nature's voice,
Thrilling the balmy air,
That ever made my heart rejoice,
Were heard by thee, Loch Gair.
As if they would a welcome give
Unto the stranger's heart,
Telling there is a charm in life,
From the gay world apart.
Unto the stranger's heart,
Telling there is a charm in life,
From the gay world apart.
The cuckoo's gentle, hushing song,
Comes whispering with the breeze;
A fairy murmur all day long,
Amid the sunlit trees.
Comes whispering with the breeze;
A fairy murmur all day long,
Amid the sunlit trees.
I love the shy and lonely bird,
Shunning the haunts of men;
It breathes not of the common herd,
In sight of human ken.
Shunning the haunts of men;
It breathes not of the common herd,
In sight of human ken.
Like a lone spirit left on earth,
Fond, desolate, and proud,
Wailing the hour that gave it birth,
Amid the heartless crowd.
Fond, desolate, and proud,
Wailing the hour that gave it birth,
Amid the heartless crowd.
The gentle music of the wave,
Kissing the pebbly shore,
As if it knew the joy it gave,,
And would that it were more;—
Kissing the pebbly shore,
As if it knew the joy it gave,,
And would that it were more;—
The rushing of the waterfall,
The gurgling of the stream—
Will on my musing senses fall
Like a sweet and pleasant dream.
The gurgling of the stream—
Will on my musing senses fall
Like a sweet and pleasant dream.
The very air breathes summer joy—
One long bright sunny smile—
As if the earth had no alloy,
The present to beguile.
One long bright sunny smile—
As if the earth had no alloy,
The present to beguile.
Of all the joys that give the heart
That bounding thrill of bliss,
From all earth-brooding cares apart,
There's none so sweet as this—
That bounding thrill of bliss,
From all earth-brooding cares apart,
There's none so sweet as this—
To see and feel the beautiful
Around thee and above:
Oh! this is earth's first joy to me—
An atmosphere of love.
Around thee and above:
Oh! this is earth's first joy to me—
An atmosphere of love.
Wherever nature feeds my soul
With beauty, rich and rare,
My wandering thoughts, with fond control,
Will turn to thee, Loch Gair.
With beauty, rich and rare,
My wandering thoughts, with fond control,
Will turn to thee, Loch Gair.
The dearest moments fate has given,
To woo my spirit's care,
Or give my soul one gleam of heaven,
Were passed by loved Loch Gair.
To woo my spirit's care,
Or give my soul one gleam of heaven,
Were passed by loved Loch Gair.