Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DAUGHTER OF THE BLIND, by ANNE M. F. ANNAN First Line: My father dear! 'tis sweet to me Last Line: To lure me from your side! Alternate Author Name(s): Buchanan, Anne M. F. Subject(s): Blindness; Visually Handicapped | ||||||||
MY father dear! 'tis sweet to me These calm, soft evening hours, Thus, with your hand in mine, to be Among my gentle flowers. I've planted such as you can love, -- Not things of flaunting bloom, But such as seem to have a soul That speaks through their perfume; -- The thyme that sheds its fragrance o'er The foot by which 'tis trod, -- An emblem of God's loved, the meek, Who kiss the smiting rod; And jasmines sweet, which sweeter breathe The lower sinks the sun, Like the true heart which fonder grows As sorrow's night comes on! Though, with their glorious poesy, The stars to you are dim, Does not each wind that wafts about Speak to you in a hymn? The very breeze to which I give This breath, may but to-day, Have linger'd in memorial fanes Of ages pass'd away; From the lone mart of vanish'd men The desert's sands have roll'd, And stirr'd the ivy where the lay Of chivalry was troll'd; -- Oh! while a thousand themes they bring Of temple, tower and tomb, One fill'd like thou with lofty love Sure cannot live in gloom! And when with snows our walks are spread, From Milton's deathless page I'll read the visions seraphs brought To cheer his sightless age: I'll read of pageant's proud which flash'd Through Homer's dawnless night, And blind old Ossian's fancies fraught With shadowy forms of might; And while my voice is sweet to you, And veil'd my form and face, I'll smile that nature holds from me Her gifts of bloom and grace; For the vain world heeds not the one That lacks such things of pride, And will not bring its tempting wiles To lure me from your side! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLIND POET by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) HE HAD A GOOD YEAR by MARVIN BELL THE BLIND SHEEP by RANDALL JARRELL THE BLIND by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE BLIND DOG OF VENICE by RON PADGETT BATTLE AFTER WAR by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON BOARDING: 5. THE DADAR SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND by REETIKA VAZIRANI TO A FRIEND by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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