Analysis of Fancy and the Poet

Enchanting spirit! -- at thy votive shrine
        I lowly bend a simple wreath to twine;
        O Come from the ideal world and fling
        Thy airy fingers o'er my rugged string;
        Sweep the dark chords of thought and give to earth
        The thrilling song that tells thy heavenly birth --

Happiness when from earth she fled
            I passed on her heavenward flight --
        "Take this crown," the spirit said
          "Of heaven's own golden light --
      To the sons of sorrow the token give,
      And bid them follow my steps and live!" --

I took the crown from the snowy hand,
          It flashed like a living star;
      I turned this dark earth to a fairy land
          When I hither drive my car;
      But I placed the crown round my tresses bright,
      And man only saw its reflected light --

Many a lovely dream I've given,
          And many a song divine;
      But never! -- oh never -- that gift of heaven
          Shall mortals temples twine --
      Hope and love in the circlet glow!
      'Tis all too bright for a world of woe --

Hist -- Beautiful spirit! -- why silent so soon?
      My ear drinks each word of thy magical tune;
      My lyre owns thy touch -- and its tremulous strings
      Vibrate beneath the soft play of thy wings;
      Resume thy sweet lay, and reveal, ere we part
      Thy home lovely spirit -- and say what thou art?" --

The gleam of a star thou cans't not see --
      Of an eye 'neath its sleeping lid,
      The sound of a far off melody
         The voice of a stream that's hid;
      Such must I still remain to thee
      A wonder and a mystery! --

I live in the poet's dream
          I flash on the painter's eye;
      I dwell in the moon's pale beam,
          In the depths of the star lit sky;
      I traverse the earth, the air, the main,
      And bind young hearts in my magic chain --

I float on the fleecy cloud
          My voice is in ev'ry breeze;
      I speak in the tempest loud,
          In the sigh of the waving trees --
      To the sons of earth -- in a mystic tone,
      I tell of a world more bright than their own! --