 | The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton |  |
316
VERSICLES.
[Amid the factions of the field of life]
Amid the factions of the field of life
The Poet held his little neutral ground,
And they who mixed the deepest in the strife
Their evening way to his seclusion found.
The Poet held his little neutral ground,
And they who mixed the deepest in the strife
Their evening way to his seclusion found.
There, meeting oft the' antagonists of the day,
Who near in mute defiance seemed to stand,
He said what neither would be first to say,
And, having spoken, left them hand in hand.
Who near in mute defiance seemed to stand,
He said what neither would be first to say,
And, having spoken, left them hand in hand.
[I sent my memo'ry out]
I sent my memo'ry outTo chase a Thought:
It brought back doubt on doubt,
But never caught
The fugitive,—who will return some day
When I've no use for him in work or play.
[The heart that Passion never fired]
The heart that Passion never fired,Of other's Love can nothing tell—
How can I teach you what's inspired,
Unless you are inspired as well?
317
[Because your nature can extend]
Because your nature can extendIts vision to a needle's end,
And you, with self-sufficient air,
Announce the wonders you see there,—
You must not murmur that some eye
Moulded and trained to range the sky,
May read in yon far star as clear
As you can spy and potter here.
(PREFIXED TO PALM LEAVES.)
Eastward roll the orbs of heaven,Westward tend the thoughts of men:
Let the Poet, nature-driven,
Wander Eastward now and then:
There the calm of life comparing
With his Europe's busy fate,
Let him, gladly homeward faring,
Learn to labour and to wait.
[Through clouds of care mankind must move]
Through clouds of care mankind must move,—Each his appointed day;
Only the glorious care of Love
Drives other clouds away.
318
[Since in this world's eternal chorus]
Since in this world's eternal chorusSome voices must be high, some low,
Let those that like it bawl and bore us,
—But in the things they really know.
319
TO A. H. H.
Thou gleaner of the sunny hours,
Harvested in the home of God,
Gild me the future summer's hours,
Revive the present ice-bound sod!
Harvested in the home of God,
Gild me the future summer's hours,
Revive the present ice-bound sod!
Thou gleaner from the darkest hours
Of scattered good I cannot see,
Preserve thy dear remedial powers,
And shed them, as I need, o'er me!
Of scattered good I cannot see,
Preserve thy dear remedial powers,
And shed them, as I need, o'er me!
New Year's Day, 1854.
| The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton | |