Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MY MUSE, by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MY MUSE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dear muse, the world will never guess
Last Line: "I am thy soul."
Subject(s): Hearts; Muses; Pain; Soul; Suffering; Misery


Dear Muse, the world will never guess
How sweet thy gifts have been to me,
For I have never dared confess
How perfect was the happiness
Conferred by thee.

Dost thou not know it? I would fain
Believe it, though for many years
I left thee in pursuit of gain,
Until my heart was filled with pain,
My eyes with tears.

When once again to thee I came,
Thou didst not chide me, but thy smile,
Though tender still, awakened shame,
And made the quest of gold and fame
Seem not worth while.

I winced beneath thy mild disdain,
And by my own repentance driven,
I sought parnassus to regain,
And for those years upon the plain
To be forgiven.

Then didst thou take me by the hand,
And tell me of the lovely things
Pertaining to that mystic land
Which everyone must understand,
Who rightly sings.

What though the world may never heed
The verses, to thy promptings due?
It satisfies my spirit's need
To write them, though the friends who read
Are very few.

To-day I asked thee, half in fear: --
"Who art thou, that hast such control?"
Thy soft reply I still can hear: --
"Dost thou not recognize me, dear?
I am thy Soul."





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