'Twas summer,-- through the opening grass <br />The joyous flowers upsprang, <br />The birds in all their different tribes <br />Loud in the woodlands sang: <br />Then forth I went, and wandered far <br />The wide green meadow o'er; <br />Where cool and clear the fountain play'd, <br />There strayed I in that hour. <br /> <br />Roaming on, the nightingale <br />Sang sweetly in my ear; <br />And, by the greenwood's shady side, <br />A dream came to me there; <br />Fast by the fountain, where bright flowers <br />Of sparkling hue we see, <br />Close sheltered from the summer heat, <br />That vision came to me. <br /> <br />All care was banished, and repose <br />Came o'er my wearied breast; <br />And kingdoms seemed to wait on me, <br />For I was with the blest. <br /> <br />Yet, while it seemed as if away <br />My spirit soared on high, <br />And in the boundless joys of heaven <br />Was wrapt in ecstacy, <br />E'en then, my body revelled still <br />In earth's festivity; <br />And surely never was a dream <br />So sweet as this to me. <br /> <br />Thus I dream'd on, and might have dwelt <br />Still on that rapturous dream, <br />When, hark! a raven's luckless note <br />(Sooth, 'twas a direful scream,) <br />Broke up the vision of delight, <br />Instant my joy was past: <br />O, had a stone but met my hand, <br />That hour had been his last....<br /><br />Walther von der Vogelweide<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/twas-summer/
