Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STANZAS FOR MUSIC, by FRANCES SARGENT OSGOOD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STANZAS FOR MUSIC, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Believe me, 'tis no pang of jealous pride
Last Line: For what I am -- but what I wish to be!
Alternate Author Name(s): Vane, Violet
Subject(s): Music & Musicians


BELIEVE me, 't is no pang of jealous pride
That brings these tears I know not how to hide;
I only grieve because -- because -- I see
Thou find'st not all thy heart demands in me.

I only grieve that others, who care less
For thy dear love, thy lightest wish may bless;
That while to them thou'rt nothing -- all to me,
They may a moment minister to thee!

Ah! If a fairy's magic might were mine,
I'd joy to change with each new wish of thme;
Nothing to all the world beside I'd be,
And everything thou lov'st, in turn to thee!

Pliant as clouds, that haunt the sun-god still,
I'd catch each ray of thy prismatic will;
I'd be a flower -- a wild, sweet flower I'd be,
And sigh my very life away for thee.

I'd be a gem and drink light from the sun,
To glad thee with, if gems thy fancy won;
Were birds thy joy, I'd light with docile glee
Upon thy hand, and shut my wings for thee!

Could a wild wave thy glance of pleasure meet,
I'd lay my crown of spray-pearls at thy feet;
Or could a star delight thy heart, I'd be
The happiest star that ever look'd on thee!

If music lured thy spirit, I would take
A tune's aerial beauty for thy sake;
And float into thy soul, till I could see
How to become all melody to thee.

The weed, that by the garden blossom grows,
Would, if it could, be glorious as the rose;
It tries to bloom -- its soul to light aspires;
The love of beauty every fibre fires.

And I -- no luminous cloud floats by above,
But wins at once my envy and my love,
So passionately wild this thirst in me,
To be all beauty and all grace to thee!

Alas! I am but woman, fond and weak,
Without even power my proud, pure love to speak,
But oh! by all I fail in, love not me
For what I am -- but what I wish to be!





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