Love's touch is soft, and Death Is gentle, when he takes A sleeping child's light breath, Before it wakes; But neither Death nor Love Moves softer than I move. Great is my ecstasy, Till generous I For common pence have sold The world my purest gold. No man that's blind Has ears more quick to hear; No man that's deaf and dumb Has eyes more sharp and clear. No wonder then that kings, Envying the man who sings, Aspire to wear his crown, And scorn their own; No wonder kings aspire For crowns not made of gold, Which -- though Time's born a thief -- Escape his hold. Two kings have won -- David and Solomon. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BIRTHDAY by LOUIS UNTERMEYER EPIGRAM: EHEU FUGACES by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM IN THE NEOLITHIC AGE by RUDYARD KIPLING THE LADY POVERTY by ALICE MEYNELL SONNET: TO L.T. IN FLORENCE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |