Lionel Johnson, Bells, To John Little, from The Bibelot, Volume X, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Swinburne, rare poetry, rare prose, free online text, e-book, 20th century English literature, online text, free e-book, on www.elfinspell.com (Bibelot10JohnsonBells)

From The Bibelot, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Volume X, Testimonial Edition, Edited and Originally Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Maine; Wm. Wise & Co.; New York; 1904; p. 93.

BELLS.

To John Little.

FROM far away! from far away!
  But whence, you will not say:
Melancholy bells, appealing chimes,
    Vocies of lands and times!

Your toll, O melancholy bells!
    Over the valley swells:
O touching chimes! your dying sighs
    Travel our tranquil skies.

But whence? And whither fade away
    Your echoes from our day?
You take our hearts with gentle pain,
    Tremble, and pass again.

Could we lay hold upon your haunts,
    The birthplace of your chaunts:
Were we in dreamland, deathland, then?
    We, sad and wondering men?

III. POEMS BY LIONEL JOHNSON.

BELLS.

To John Little.

1887.

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