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University of Virginia Library

Sonnets, Lyrics and Translations

By the Rev. Charles Turner [i.e. Charles Tennyson]

Turner, Charles Tennyson (1808-1879)

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LITTLE SOPHY BY THE SEASIDE.

THE BUTTERFLY AND THE ROSE.

THE DYING SCULPTOR.

THE BARMOUTH SEA-BRIDGE.

ON A CHILD'S EYES.

OUR MARY AND THE CHILD-MUMMY.

CALLED FROM BED;

A BLUSH AT FAREWELL.

THE HYDRAULIC RAM;

ON THE MONUMENT OF THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH STUART IN NEWPORT CHURCH, ISLE OF WIGHT.

THE SICK ORPHAN;

THE MISSING BRIDE.

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ENGLAND'S HONOUR.

ENGLAND'S HONOUR Continued

ENGLAND'S HONOUR Continued

ARMS OLD AND NEW.

THE BOMB AND THE ORGAN.

TO A FRENCH POET AND REFUGEE.

THE ASCENT OF SNOWDON.

THE ARTIST ON PENMAENMAWR.

CADER IDRIS AT SUNSET.

THE OLD HILLS'-MAN AND HIS TRUCK.

THE LITTLE HEIR OF SHAME.

THE HARVEST MOON.

OLD RURALITIES.

TO A RED-WHEAT FIELD.

TO A SCARECROW, OR MALKIN, LEFT LONG AFTER HARVEST.

THE OLD FOX-HUNTER.

TO THE GOSSAMER-LIGHT.

ON FINDING A SMALL FLY CRUSHED IN A BOOK.

THE EAGLE AND THE SONNET.

A COLONY OF NIGHTINGALES.

THE SPARROW AND THE DEW-DROP.

TO A CUCKOO IN A HIGHWAY HEDGE.

THE SWAN AND THE PEACOCK.

OUR NEW CHURCH.

OUR NEW CHURCH CLOCK.

TWELVE O'CLOCK AT NOON.

THE AFTERNOTE OF THE HOUR.

AFTER THE SCHOOL-FEAST.

THE MURDER OF BISHOP PATTESON.

THE PASTOR'S PRAYER.

TO THE HOLY VIRGIN.

TO MY SISTER MARY.

A PERVERSE LOVER.

A MOURNING LOVER.

TO THE NIGHTINGALE.

ON SOME HUMMING-BIRDS IN A GLASS CASE.

THE “CANNON FEVER.”

THE EARTHQUAKE.

TO A YOUNG KING.

GREECE: AN ASPIRATION.

DEATH AND ITS ANTIDOTE.

SCIENCE AND FAITH.

THE PORTRAIT PAINTER.

THE TRAVELLER AND HIS WIFE'S RINGLET.

THE ALTAR, AS CONNECTED WITH MARRIAGE.

A BRIDAL FAREWELL.

WRITTEN FOR THE MADINGLEY SCHOOL, ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THE MANOR HOUSE, IN 1861.

A LEGEND FROM DE LAMARTINE'S TRAVELS IN THE EAST, VERSIFIED.

AN INCIDENT ON THE DEE.

SLEEP AND DREAMS.

A FATHER TO HIS SICK CHILD ASLEEP.

BY A DEATH-BED.

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46

THE SPARROW AND THE DEW-DROP.

When to the birds their morning meal I threw,
Beside one perky candidate for bread
There flash'd and wink'd a tiny drop of dew,
But while I gaz'd, I lost them, both had fled;
His careless tread had struck the blade-hung tear,
And all its silent beauty fell away;
And left, sole relic of the twinkling sphere,
A sparrow's dabbled foot upon a spray;
Bold bird! that did'st efface a lovely thing
Before a poet's eyes! I've half a mind,
Could I but single thee from out thy kind,
To mulct thee in a crumb; a crumb to thee
Is not more sweet than that fair drop to me;
Fie on thy little foot and thrumming wing!