 | Poems of Paul Hamilton Hayne |  |
X.
SONNET.
Written on a fly-leaf of “The Rubaiyat” of Omar Kháyyám, the astronomer-poet of Persia.
Who deems the soul to endless death is thrall,That no life breathes beyond that moment dire,
When every sense seems lost as outblown fire;—
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Or on false gods of sensual rapture call;
Pluck the rich rose-leaves! lift the wine cup higher!
Wed delicate Instinct to malign Desire,
(Like some Greek girl clasped by a barbarous Gaul!)
Thus Omar preached, thus practised, centuries since;
Wine, beauty, idlesse, orgies crowned by lust;
All these he chanted in voluptuous song;
Yet who shall vow, deep Thinker! poet Prince!
Thy rhythmic creed the unnatural voice of wrong,
If man, dust-born, shall still return to dust?
| Poems of Paul Hamilton Hayne | |