Complete Poetical Works, Volume 2

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Houghten, Mifflin, 1892

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Page 113 - On a poet's lips I slept Dreaming like a love-adept In the sound his breathing kept ; Nor seeks nor finds he mortal blisses, But feeds on the aerial kisses Of shapes that haunt thought's wildernesses. He will watch from dawn to gloom The lake-reflected sun illume The yellow bees in the ivy-bloom, Nor heed nor see what things they be ; But from these create he can Forms more real than living man, Nurslings of immortality ! One of these awakened me, And I sped to succor thee.
Page 70 - Most wretched men Are cradled into poetry by wrong, They learn in suffering what they teach in song.
Page 193 - And if, with infirm hand, Eternity, Mother of many acts and hours, should free The serpent that would clasp her with his length; These are the spells by which to reassume An empire o'er the disentangled doom.
Page 144 - On the brink of the night and the morning My coursers are wont to respire ; But the Earth has just whispered a warning That their flight must be swifter than fire : They shall drink the hot speed of desire!
Page 435 - The rocks are cloven, and through the purple night I see cars drawn by rainbow-winged steeds Which trample the dim winds: in each there stands A wild-eyed charioteer urging their flight. Some look behind, as fiends pursued them there, And yet I see no shapes but the keen stars: Others, with burning eyes, lean forth, and drink With eager lips the wind of their own speed. As if the thing they loved fled on before, And now, even now, they clasped it. Their bright locks Stream like a comet's flashing...
Page 93 - Prometheus. It doth repent me: words are quick and vain: Grief for awhile is blind, and so was mine. I wish no living thing to suffer pain.
Page 159 - Death is the veil which those who live call life ; They sleep, and it is lifted...
Page 129 - All spirits on that secret way ; As inland boats are driven to Ocean Down streams made strong with mountain-thaw : And first there comes a gentle sound To those in talk or slumber bound, And wakes the destined. Soft emotion Attracts, impels them : those who saw Say from the breathing earth behind There steams a plume-uplifting wind Which drives them on their path, while they Believe their own swift wings and feet The sweet desires within obey...
Page 82 - My heart ; and shapeless sights come wandering by, The ghastly people of the realm of dream, Mocking me: and the earthquake-fiends are charged To wrench the rivets from my quivering wounds, When the rocks split and close again behind : While from their loud abysses howling throng The genii of the storm, urging the rage Of whirlwind, and afflict me with keen hail.
Page 105 - One came forth of gentle worth Smiling on the sanguine earth ; His words outlived him, like swift poison Withering up truth, peace, and pity.

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