Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONNET: TO -- . (1) by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE

Poet Analysis

First Line: FAIR MUSE, BELOVED OF ALL, THOU ART NO HIGH / IMPERIOUS GODDESS OF THE MOUNT
Last Line: HOT FROM THE SOUL SOME SECRET GOD HATH FIRED!

FAIR Muse, beloved of all, thou art no high
Imperious goddess of the mount or main,
But a sweet maiden of the pastoral plain,
To whom the hum of bees, the west wind's sigh,
The lapse of waters murmuring tranquilly,
Come, like soft music of a May-tide dream.
Yet, times there are when some imperial theme,
Born of a stormy sunset's marvellous sky,
And heralded by thunder and fierce flame,
Sweeps o'er thy vision with a mien sublime,
And mighty voices, calling on thy name:
Then dost thou rise, exultant, thrilled, inspired,
Thy song a clarion lay that stirs our time,
Hot from the soul some secret god hath fired!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net