A ROSE of perfect red, embossed With silver sheens of crystal frost, Yet warm, nor life nor fragrance lost. High passion throbbing in a sphere That Art hath wrought of diamond clear, -- A great heart beating in a tear. The listening soul is full of dreams That shape the wondrous-varying themes As cries of men or plash of streams. Or noise of summer rain-drops round That patter daintily a-ground With hints of heaven in the sound. Or noble wind-tones chanting free Through morning-skies across the sea Wild hymns to some strange majesty. O, if one trope, clear-cut and keen, May type the art of Song's best queen, White-hot of soul, white-chaste of mien, On Music's heart doth Nilsson dwell As if a Swedish snow-flake fell Into a glowing flower-bell. NEW YORK, 1871. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAIRIES' SONG by THOMAS RANDOLPH ON LOOKING INTO GOLDING'S OVID by STEVE SCAFIDI JR. THE PLUME by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN MOONBLIND by DOROTHY MARIE DAVIS A LEAFY WELCOME by MARY JANE DEW SNOW POEM by RODOLFO DI BIASIO |