The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
13
SONNET XI
“PRAISE BEAUTY!”
II.
Ah! sweet one, why thus lure us on by day,
And send us flying phantom dreams by night
That lips may smart for unattained delight?
Why, treacherous, teach our vehement tongues to pray
Just to annihilate us with a “Nay,”
A cold still countenance after smiles so bright?
Sweet, thou wast rosy once, why now be white?
Thou who didst hasten towards us, why delay?
And send us flying phantom dreams by night
That lips may smart for unattained delight?
Why, treacherous, teach our vehement tongues to pray
Just to annihilate us with a “Nay,”
A cold still countenance after smiles so bright?
Sweet, thou wast rosy once, why now be white?
Thou who didst hasten towards us, why delay?
Why tarry thus the backward lingering wheels
Of Beauty's chariot harnessed to the sun,
And swift by rights as dawn's approach begun,
Or echoes following hard triumphant peals
When all the brain brimful of rapture reels
With melodies that beat and burst and stun?
Of Beauty's chariot harnessed to the sun,
And swift by rights as dawn's approach begun,
Or echoes following hard triumphant peals
When all the brain brimful of rapture reels
With melodies that beat and burst and stun?
1870.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |