The moment wondrous I remember

Thou before me didst appear

Like a flashing apparition

Like a spirit of beauty pure.

’Mid sorrows of hopeless grief

’Mid tumults of noiseful bustle

Rang long to me thy tender voice

Came dreams to me of thy lovely features.

Went by the years. The storm’s rebellious rush

The former dreams had scattered

And I forgot thy tender voice

I forgot thy heavenly features.

In the desert in prison’s darkness

Quietly my days were dragging;

No reverence nor inspiration

Nor tears nor life nor love.

But at last awakes my soul:

And again didst thou appear:

Like a flashing apparition

Like a spirit of beauty pure.

And enraptured beats my heart

And risen are for it again

Both reverence and inspiration

And life and tears and love.