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SONNET TO QUEEN VICTORIA, ON A PUBLIC CELEBRATION by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES

Poet Analysis

First Line: HOW ART THOU CALM AMID THE STORM, YOUNG QUEEN!
Last Line: THE LIVING, LOVING, NATURE OF A CHILD!
Subject(s): VICTORIA, QUEEN OF ENGLAND (1819-1901);

HOW art Thou calm amid the storm, young Queen!
Amid this wide and joy-distracted throng?
Where has the range of life-experience been
To keep thy heart thus equable and strong?
Can the secluded cold which may belong
To such high state compose thy noble mien,
Without the duteous purpose not to wrong
The truth of some Ideal spirit-seen?

Perchance the depth of what I boldly asked
None know -- nor I, nor Thou.
Yet let us pray
That Thou, in this exceeding glory masked,
Be not to loss of thy true self beguiled;
Still able at thy Maker's feet to lay
The living, loving, nature of a child!



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