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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON READING PAUL AND VIRGINIA IN CHILDHOOD by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS

Poet Analysis

First Line: O GENTLE STORY OF THE INDIAN ISLE!
Last Line: TO REACH WITH BLIGHT THAT HOLIEST EDENFLOWER.
Subject(s): CHILDREN; SPRING; CHILDHOOD;

O GENTLE story of the Indian isle!
I loved thee in my lonely childhood well
On the sea-shore, when day's last, purple smile
Slept on the waters, and their hollow swell
And dying cadence lent a deeper spell
Unto thine ocean-pictures. 'Midst thy palms
And strange bright birds, my fancy joyed to dwell,
And watch the Southern Cross through midnight calms,
And track the spicy woods. Yet more I blessed
Thy vision of sweet love -- kind, trustful, true,
Lighting the citron groves, a heavenly guest,
With such pure smiles as Paradise once knew.
Even then my young heart wept o'er this world's power
To reach with blight that holiest Edenflower.



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