SENSE with keenest edge unused, Yet unsteel'd by scathing fire; Lovely feet as yet unbruised On the ways of dark desire; Sweetest hope that lookest smiling O'er the wilderness defiling! Why such beauty, to be blighted By the swarm of foul destruction? Why such innocence delighted, When sin stalks to thy seduction? All the litanies e'er chaunted Shall not keep thy faith undaunted. I have pray'd the sainted Morning To unclasp her hands to hold thee; From resignful Eve's adorning Stol'n a robe of peace to enfold thee; With all charms of man's contriving Arm'd thee for thy lonely striving. Me too once unthinking Nature, -- Whence Love's timeless mockery took me, -- Fashion'd so divine a creature, Yea, and like a beast forsook me. I forgave, but tell the measure Of her crime in thee, my treasure. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTHWELL: PART 3 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN PROLOGUE TO DRAMA ..... ANNIVERSARY OF CARRS' MARRIAGE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE FLOWER-GATHERERS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN ADVICE TO A BLUE-BIRD by MAXWELL BODENHEIM MARCH OF THE MEN OF HARLECH by ALEXANDER BOSWELL SONNETS OF SEVEN CITIES: PITTSBURGH by BERTON BRALEY |