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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE DOVE by SIDNEY LANIER

Poet Analysis

First Line: IF HAPLY THOU, O DESDEMONA MORN
Last Line: CHADD'S FORD, PENNSYLVANIA, 1877.
Subject(s): DOVES;

IF haply thou, O Desdemona Morn,
Shouldst call along the curving sphere, "Remain,
Dear Night, sweet Moor; nay, leave me not in scorn!"
With soft halloos of heavenly love and pain; --
Shouldst thou, O Spring! a-cower in coverts dark,
'Gainst proud supplanting Summer sing thy plea,
And move the mighty woods through mailed bark
Till mortal heart-break throbbed in every tree; --
Or (grievous if that may be yea o'er-soon!)
If thou, my Heart, long holden from thy Sweet,
Shouldst knock Death's door with mellow shocks of tune,
Sad inquiry to make -- When may we meet?
Nay, if ye three, O Morn! O Spring! O Heart!
Should chant grave unisons of grief and love;
Ye could not mourn with more melodious art
Than daily doth yon dim sequestered dove.
CHADD'S FORD, PENNSYLVANIA, 1877.



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