Rarely, rarely, comest thou, <br />Spirit of Delight! <br />Wherefore hast thou left me now <br />Many a day and night? <br />Many a weary night and day <br />'Tis since thou art fled away. <br /> <br />How shall ever one like me <br />Win thee back again? <br />With the joyous and the free <br />Thou wilt scoff at pain. <br />Spirit false! thou hast forgot <br />All but those who need thee not. <br /> <br />As a lizard with the shade <br />Of a trembling leaf, <br />Thou with sorrow art dismayed; <br />Even the sighs of grief <br />Reproach thee, that thou art not near, <br />And reproach thou wilt not hear. <br /> <br />Let me set my mournful ditty <br />To a merry measure; <br />Thou wilt never come for pity, <br />Thou wilt come for pleasure; - <br />Pity then will cut away <br />Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay. <br /> <br />I love all that thou lovest, <br />Spirit of Delight! <br />The fresh Earth in new leaves dressed, <br />And the starry night; <br />Autumn evening, and the morn <br />When the golden mists are born. <br /> <br />I love snow and all the forms <br />Of the radiant frost; <br />I love waves, and winds, and storms, <br />Everything almost <br />Which is Nature's, and may be <br />Untainted by man's misery. <br /> <br />I love tranquil solitude, <br />And such society <br />As is quiet, wise, and good: - <br />Between thee and me <br />What diff'rence? but thou dost possess <br />The things I seek, not love them less. <br /> <br />I love Love -though he has wings, <br />And like light can flee, <br />But above all other things, <br />Spirit, I love thee - <br />Thou art love and life! O come! <br />Make once more my heart thy home!<br /><br />Percy Bysshe Shelley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/invocation/
