For Leonardo, sound, my sonnet string! Da Vinci; even so late his praise intone, Who made all art his life, all life his own, Under the equal gaze of sage and king. The keys of knowledge 'neath his fingering Grew bright and tamer; in his smile alone He gave all devils due, all dogs their bone, And held a secret like a hidden wing. Inquisitor at windows of the spheres; Outrider by the whispering stars enticed; Gay heart where cavern waters rippled bland; Spirit unbowed in any court of seers; yet could he lift no brush to paint the Christ But first he stayed the tremble of his hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THOMAS MOORE (1) by GEORGE GORDON BYRON HOW'S MY BOY? by SYDNEY THOMPSON DOBELL SYSTEM by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON THE LEPER by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE LACHRYMAE MUSARUM (THE DEATH OF TENNYSON) by WILLIAM WATSON |