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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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[XX. Poet! who sittest in thy pleasant room]

Poet! who sittest in thy pleasant room,
Warming thy heart with idle thoughts of love,
And of a holy life that leads above,
Striving to keep life's spring-flowers still in bloom,
And lingering to snuff their fresh perfume—
O, there were other duties meant for thee,
Than to sit down in peacefulness and Be!
O, there are brother-hearts that dwell in gloom,
Souls loathsome, foul, and black with daily sin,
So crusted o'er with baseness, that no ray
Of heaven's blessed light may enter in!
Come down, then, to the hot and dusty way,
And lead them back to hope and peace again—
For, save in Act, thy Love is all in vain.
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