Why, Minstrel, these untuneful murmurings''" Dull, flagging notes that with each other jar?''' '''Think, gentle Lady, of a Harp so far From its own country, and forgive the strings.''' A simple answer! but even so forth springs, From the Castalian fountain of the heart, The Poetry of Life, and all that Art Divine of words quickening insensate things. From the submissive necks of guiltless men Stretched on the block, the glittering axe recoils; Sun, moon, and stars, all struggle in the toils Of mortal sympathy; what wonder then That the poor Harp distempered music yields To its sad Lord, far from his native fields? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHILDREN'S HOUR by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: FIDDLER JONES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS NORTHERN FARMER, NEW STYLE by ALFRED TENNYSON THE PATIENT WAYS by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE ON HIS WIFE, AN EPITAPH by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) THE WATER LILY by MARY FRANCES MARSHALL BUTTS |