Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO WORDSWORTH, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Thine is a strain to read among the hills Last Line: Bright healthful waves flow forth, to each glad wanderer free. Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Women; Wordsworth, William (1770-1850) | ||||||||
THINE is a strain to read among the hills, The old and full of voices, -- by the source Of some free stream, whose gladdening presence fills The solitude with sound; for in its course Even such is thy deep song, that seems a part Of those high scenes, a fountain from their heart. Or its calm spirit fitly may be taken To the still breast in sunny garden bowers, Where vernal winds each tree's low tones awaken, And bud and bell with changes mark the hours. There let thy thoughts be with me, while the day Sinks with a golden and serene decay. Or by some hearth where happy faces meet, When night hath hushed the woods, with all their birds, There, from some gentle voice, that lay were sweet As antique music, linked with household words; While in pleased murmurs woman's lip might move, And the raised eye of childhood shine in love. Or where the shadows of dark solemn yews Brood silently o'er some lone burial-ground, Thy verse hath power that brightly might diffuse A breath, a kindling, as of spring, around; From its own glow of hope and courage high, And steadfast faith's victorious constancy. True bard and holy! -- thou art e'en as one Who, by some secret gift of soul or eye, In every spot beneath the smiling sun, Sees where the springs of living waters lie: Unseen awhile they sleep -- till, touched by thee, Bright healthful waves flow forth, to each glad wanderer free. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE YOUTH OF NATURE: WORDSWORTH'S COUNTRY by MATTHEW ARNOLD RESOLUTION OF DEPENDENCE by GEORGE BARKER ON A PORTRAIT OF WORDSWORTH BY B.R. HAYDON by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE LOST LEADER by ROBERT BROWNING DON JUAN: DEDICATION [OR, INVOCATION] by GEORGE GORDON BYRON ON WORDSWORTH by DAVID HARTLEY COLERIDGE TO WILLIAM WORDSWORTH by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE WHITE KNIGHT'S SONG by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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