The lesson of life and other poems

Boker, George H. (1823-1890)

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151

SONNET.

[WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS.]

Here Nature's voice speaks from the glowing page;
Now with high melody the numbers swell,
Now murmuring low, soft as Proteus' shell.
Here may'st thou learn from Wisdom's lofty Sage,
Those secret yearnings of the inmost heart,
Which the rapt soul, soaring beyond its clay,
'Mong the harmonious spheres, in upper day,
Breathes to itself in music. Here thou'lt start
To see thoughts inexpressible to thee,

152

Murmurings in holy contemplation's hour,
Whisperings of high angelic rhapsody,
Which Man's weak voice to utter ne'er had power,
Till heavenly Wordsworth, holy Nature's Tongue!
Struck his seraphic lyre, and musing sung.

University of Virginia Library

SONNET.

[WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS.]