A TEAR that trembles for a little while Upon the trembling eyelid, till the world Wavers within its circle like a dream, Holds more of meaning in its narrow orb Than all the distant landscape that it blurs. A smile that hovers round a mouth beloved, Like the faint pulsing of the Northern Light, And grows in silence to an amber dawn, Born in the sweetest depths of trustful eyes, Is dearer to the soul than sun or star. A joy that falls into the hollow heart From some far-lifted height of love unseen, Unknown, makes a more perfect melody Than hidden brooks that murmur in the dusk, Or fall athwart the cliff with wavering gleam. Ah, not for their own sake are earth and sky And the fair ministries of Nature dear, But as they set themselves unto the tune That fills our life; as light mysterious Flows from within and glorifies the world. For so a common wayside blossom, touched With tender thought, assumes a grace more sweet Than crowns the royal lily of the South; And so a well-remembered perfume seems The breath of one who breathes in Paradise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: DR. BURKE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE YOUTH OF NATURE: WORDSWORTH'S COUNTRY by MATTHEW ARNOLD FREEDOM by RALPH WALDO EMERSON EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: A DRIFTER OFF TARENTUM by RUDYARD KIPLING THE OLD CHURCHYARD OF BONCHURCH by PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON EROS TURANNOS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |