Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MARKET-BELL, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MARKET-BELL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweet from his pipe the piper drew
Last Line: Earth's loud, imperious market bell.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Bells; Music & Musicians; Sound


SWEET from his pipe the piper drew
A sound that ravished all men's ears,
And soared ethereal to the blue
Wherein the skylark disappears.
The listening throng, or grave or gay,
Were hushed beneath the music's sway.

When sudden, on the silver notes,
A loud, discordant clamor fell;
A shout arose from eager throats:
"The market-bell! the market-bell!"
Swift rushed the audience from the place;
The piper piped to empty space.

A bitter story this,—antique,
And full of cynic irony.
The keen-edged humor of the Greek,—
Hath it no sting for thee and me?
Or glad, or wise, or sad, or fain,
Dear Nature wooes us not in vain!

Her mystic measures round us roll,
We sit in silence at her feet;
And, awed and thrilled, we own control
As potent as, alas! 't is fleet.
For list! for hark! we know it well—
Earth's loud, imperious market bell.





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