A BIRD flies over the sea, —
Over the golden sea,
With a message from me to thee,
O my belovëd!

Swift to thy lattice bar,
My life, my belovëd,
Under the morning-star
He shall rest where my soul-thoughts are,
O my belovëd!

He shall 'light in the viny rings;
At thy window fastenings
He shall beat with his eager wings,
O my belovëd!

And ah! for the wild, sweet note,
My dove, my belovëd;
And O for the mad, sweet note
That shall float from his honeyed throat.
O love, my beloved!