 | The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard |  |
165
THE POET'S HEART.
'Tis like unto that dainty flower
That shuts by day its fragrance up,
And lifts unto a darkened hour
Its little essence cup.
That shuts by day its fragrance up,
And lifts unto a darkened hour
Its little essence cup.
'Tis as the grape on which it lives,
That pleasure-ripened heart must be
In sorrow crushed, or ere it gives
The wine of poesy.
That pleasure-ripened heart must be
In sorrow crushed, or ere it gives
The wine of poesy.
Or like some silver-winged fly,
By taper tempted from its flight,
It sparkles, faints, falls quiveringly,
And mingles with the light.
By taper tempted from its flight,
It sparkles, faints, falls quiveringly,
And mingles with the light.
And sure it bears a fortune such
As waits upon that graceful bird,
Whose music, mute to living touch,
At death's dim porch is heard.
As waits upon that graceful bird,
Whose music, mute to living touch,
At death's dim porch is heard.
166
And still the dolphin's fate partakes;
Though bright the hue which pride hath given,
'Tis pain whose darting pencil wakes
The master-tints of heaven.
Though bright the hue which pride hath given,
'Tis pain whose darting pencil wakes
The master-tints of heaven.
A mine where many a living gem
In cell so deep lies casketed,
That man sends down a sigh for them,
And turns away his head.
In cell so deep lies casketed,
That man sends down a sigh for them,
And turns away his head.
But not that dainty flower, the grape,
The insect's sufferance and devotion;
The swan's life-ending song, and shape
Diviner with emotion;
The insect's sufferance and devotion;
The swan's life-ending song, and shape
Diviner with emotion;
And not the dolphin's sacrifice,
The mine's most rare and dazzling part—
O! not all these could pay its price,
Or form one poet's heart.
The mine's most rare and dazzling part—
O! not all these could pay its price,
Or form one poet's heart.
| The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard | |