Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BELL by RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: I LOVE THY MUSIC, MELLOW BELL
Last Line: THAT SWEEPS MY NATIVE SHORE.
Subject(s): BELLS;
I love thy music, mellow bell,
I love thine iron chime,
To life or death, to heaven or hell,
Which calls the Sons of Time.

Thy voice upon the deep
The homebound sea-boy hails,
It charms his cares to sleep,
It cheers him as he sails.

To house of God & heavenly joys
Thy summons called our sires,
And good men thought thy sacred voice
Disarmed the thunder's fires.

And soon thy music, sad death-bell!
Shall lift its notes once more,
And mix my requiem with the wind
That sweeps my native shore.



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