How tuneful is the voice of sea, What true accord in ocean's murmur, And in the reed's light, rhythmic tremour What tender musicality! In nature all is harmony, A consonance fore'er agreed on, And 'tis alone our phantom freedom That is disturbingly off-key. Whence comes this breach? How to explain Why with the sea its song sonorous The soul declines to sing in chorus? Why does the thinking reed complain?