Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONNETS ON EMINENT CHARACTERS: 7. TO W.L. BOWLES (1ST VERSION) by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Poet Analysis

First Line: MY HEART HAS THANK'D THEE, BOWLES! FOR THOSE SOFT STRAINS
Last Line: MOV'D ON THE DARKNESS OF THE FORMLESS DEEP!
Subject(s): BOWLES, WILLIAM LISLE (1762-1850);

My heart has thank'd thee, BOWLES! for those soft strains,
That, on the still air floating, tremblingly
Wak'd in me Fancy, Love, and Sympathy!
For hence, not callous to a Brother's pains

Thro' Youth's gay prime and thornless paths I went;
And, when the @3darker@1 day of life began,
And I did roam, a thought-bewilder'd man
Thy kindred Lays an healing solace lent,

Each lonely pang with dreamy joys combin'd,
And stole from vain REGRET her scorpion stings;
While shadowy PLEASURE, with mysterious wings,
Brooded the wavy and tumultuous mind,

Like that great Spirit, who with plastic sweep
Mov'd on the darkness of the formless Deep!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net