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Early poems

Lowell, James Russell (1819-1891)

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SONNET.
  
HAKON'S LAY.
  
A REVERIE.
  
IN SADNESS.
  
OPENING POEM TO A YEAR'S LIFE.
  
DEDICATION TO VOLUME OF POEMS ENTITLED A YEAR'S LIFE.
  
SONG.
  
THE DEPARTED.
  
THE BOBOLINK.
  
FORGETFULNESS.
  
SONG.
  
THE POET.
  
FLOWERS.
  
THE LOVER.
  
TO E. W. G.
  
ISABEL.
  
MUSIC.
  
SONG.
  
IANTHE.
  
LOVE'S ALTAR.
  
IMPARTIALITY.
  
BELLEROPHON.
  
SOMETHING NATURAL.
  
A FEELING.
  
THE LOST CHILD.
  
THE CHURCH.
  
THE UNLOVELY.
  
LOVE-SONG.
  
SONG.
  
A LOVE-DREAM.
  
SPHINX.
  
“GOE, LITTLE BOOKE!”
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SONNETS.
 1. 
I. DISAPPOINTMENT.
 2. 
[II. Great human nature, whither art thou fled]
 3. 
III. TO A FRIEND.
 4. 
[IV. So may it be, but let it not be so]
 6. 
[VI. For this true nobleness I seek in vain]
 7. 
VII. To ---
 8. 
[VIII. Might I but be beloved, and, O most fair]
 9. 
[IX. Why should we ever weary of this life?]
 10. 
X. GREEN MOUNTAINS.
 11. 
[XI. My friend, adown Life's valley, hand in hand]
 12. 
[XII. Verse cannot say how beautiful thou art]
 13. 
[XIII. The soul fain its loving kindness tell]
 14. 
[XIV. I saw a gate: a harsh voice spake and said]
 15. 
[XV. I would not have this perfect love of ours]
 16. 
[XVI. To the dark, narrow house where loved ones go]
 17. 
[XVII. I fain would give to thee the loveliest things]
 18. 
[XVIII. Much I had mused of Love, and in my soul]
 19. 
[XIX. Sayest thou, most beautiful, that thou wilt wear]
 20. 
[XX. Poet! who sittest in thy pleasant room]
 21. 
XXI. “NO MORE BUT SO?”
 22. 
XXII. TO A VOICE HEARD IN MOUNT AUBURN.
 23. 
XXIII. ON READING SPENSER AGAIN.
 24. 
[XXIV. Light of mine eyes! with thy so trusting look]
 25. 
[XXV. Silent as one who treads on new-fallen snow]
 26. 
[XXVI. A gentleness that grows of steady faith]
 27. 
[XXVII. When the glad soul is full to overflow]
 28. 
XXVIII. TO THE EVENING-STAR.
 29. 
XXIX. READING.
 30. 
XXX. TO---, AFTER A SNOW-STORM.
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SONNETS ON NAMES.
 1. 
I. EDITH.
 2. 
II. ROSE.
 3. 
III. MARY.
 4. 
IV. CAROLINE.
 5. 
V. ANNE.

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[VI. For this true nobleness I seek in vain]

“For this true nobleness I seek in vain,
In woman and in man I find it not,
I almost weary of my earthly lot,
My life-springs are dried up with burning pain.”—
Thou find'st it not? I pray thee look again,
Look inward through the depths of thine own soul;
How is it with thee? Art thou sound and whole?
Doth narrow search show thee no earthly stain?
Be NOBLE! and the nobleness that lies
In other men, sleeping but never dead,
Will rise in majesty to meet thine own;
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Then wilt thou see it gleam in many eyes,
Then will pure light around thy path be shed,
And thou wilt nevermore be sad and lone.
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