COME not too near! yon glory circled Star Too closely scanned might prove but common earth: Safer to gleam divinely from afar Than risk the glamour of a heavenly birth: Come not too near! Keep not too far! the lustre of yon Sphere Is faint till twilight; 'tis so far away: Perchance 'twould glisten earlier, if near. Shine not at eve alone, but all my day! Keep not too far! Stay as thou art! Love's telescope shall clear Thine aureole enough to gauge the worth Of thy humanity: yet would I peer Not as one keen to measure fault or dearth. Stay as thou art! Let me revere! lest frightened Love depart: Better my heaven her pearly ports should bar Than aught be visioned by this wistful heart That seems her pure serenity to mar. Let me revere! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LINES WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM AT ELBINGERODE, IN HARTZ FOREST by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE NOT DEAD by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES THE DARKLING THRUSH by THOMAS HARDY THE AGED LOVER RENOUNCETH LOVE by THOMAS VAUX THE CROSS; TO THE MOTHERS OF THE MARTYRED DEAD UPON FIELD OF BATTLE by JOSEPHINE TURCK BAKER AN EASTER OFFERING by NANCY A. BASTON FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: DAY OF SURPASSING BEAUTY by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NIGHT (STRAITS OF CARQUINEZ) by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |