The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | VI. |
|
THE BLIND POET
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
53
THE BLIND POET
Within a humble London room
A poet lived and wrought:
He saw the sweet spring-blossoms bloom,
But only in his thought.
A poet lived and wrought:
He saw the sweet spring-blossoms bloom,
But only in his thought.
His eyes were darkened. But his soul
Had power to see the skies:
Of Nature's lore he read the whole
With his heart's loving eyes.
Had power to see the skies:
Of Nature's lore he read the whole
With his heart's loving eyes.
A thousand spirits walk the earth,
Yet have no power to see:
They miss its sorrow, miss its mirth,
Its beauty. Not so he!
Yet have no power to see:
They miss its sorrow, miss its mirth,
Its beauty. Not so he!
For him the sun was full of light,
And blue the clear sea-wave;
The wind-tost woods returned delight
For music that he gave.
And blue the clear sea-wave;
The wind-tost woods returned delight
For music that he gave.
54
The rosebud in his song was red;
The sun-kissed hills were green
The daisy to his door was led,
As proud as any queen!
The sun-kissed hills were green
The daisy to his door was led,
As proud as any queen!
For to each flower he gave a life
Beyond the life of time,
And by his music made the strife
Of wrestling storms sublime.
Beyond the life of time,
And by his music made the strife
Of wrestling storms sublime.
Aye, all hearts loved him. But the dead,
They loved him best, it seems.
They hovered round about his bed,
And drew him through his dreams.
They loved him best, it seems.
They hovered round about his bed,
And drew him through his dreams.
They drew his spirit towards the land
Where all who love shall see.
They took the blind man by the hand:
He followed fearlessly.
Where all who love shall see.
They took the blind man by the hand:
He followed fearlessly.
They led him from this land of ours,
And promised him a boon:
“Thine eyes shall feast on heavenly flowers,
On heavenly sun and moon;
And promised him a boon:
“Thine eyes shall feast on heavenly flowers,
On heavenly sun and moon;
55
“Thou shalt see heavenly stars,” they said;
“Thou shalt breathe heavenly air;
Thou shalt know rapture 'mid the dead,
Who, living, knewest despair:
“Thou shalt breathe heavenly air;
Thou shalt know rapture 'mid the dead,
Who, living, knewest despair:
“Follow.”—He listened to the voice,
And left us here in gloom.
Yet has he made the wiser choice:
He has left his darkened room.
And left us here in gloom.
Yet has he made the wiser choice:
He has left his darkened room.
He saw on earth pale ghosts of stars;
But that dim life is done:
Death bursts his darkness' prison-bars;
To-day he sees the sun.
But that dim life is done:
Death bursts his darkness' prison-bars;
To-day he sees the sun.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |