Madmoments: or First Verseattempts By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | Madmoments: or First Verseattempts |  |
ON USING IMAGINATION.
Thy Fancy was not given thee for nought,Then sway it kinglike: 'tis a Magicwand
And even Spirits wait at its Command,
At least thy own Thoughts, in which must be sought
All Blessings really durable! a Thought
Can make the Beggar rich, place in his Hand
The sceptre of an Empire never spanned
By Heavenarching Iris; then be taught
To use it well and often; e'en in this
Dull Weekday Life, for that its best Sphere is.
Keep it not for Life's grand Solemnities,
Nor mouth it but in Poet's-Rhapsodies,
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Draw thy Life's Poetry from it, for his
Imagination profits him alone,
Who beautifies its harsh Realities
With Hues as fresh as Raphael breathed on
His bright «Transfiguration»; 'tis all one
If in the Objet itself, or thine Eyes,
The Beauty dwell: enough if felt by thee!
This is Imagination's End, to see
All Things as if transfigured by its own
Celestial Light, éen Pain and Misery!
And know, that of the daily Bread of Bliss,
Tho' the main substance by the Heart must be
Supplied, yet still a little Fancy is
No unfit Leaven; this will set it free
From what of Earthly round the Heart has grown,
And make it Food for Angels; e'en Love's kiss
Without a Touch of Fancy were Halfjoy,
This hallows it, and then it cannot cloy!
| Madmoments: or First Verseattempts | |