“My childhood passed ‘mid radiant things, Glorious as Hope’s imaginings ; Statues but known from shapes of the earth, By being too lovely for mortal birth ; Paintings whose colours of life were caught From the fairy tints in the rainbow wrought ; Music whose sighs had a spell like those That float on the sea at the evening’s close ; Language so silvery, that every word Was like the lute’s awakening chord ; Skies half sunshine, and half starlight ; Flowers whose lives were a breath of delight ; Leaves whose green pomp knew no withering ; Fountains bright as the skies of our spring ; And songs whose wild and passionate line Suited a soul of romance like mine.”