NOT Love, not War, nor the tumultuous swell, Of civil conflict, nor the wrecks of change, Nor Duty struggling with afflictions strange -- Not these 'alone' inspire the tuneful shell; But where untroubled peace and concord dwell, There also is the Muse not loth to range, Watching the twilight smoke of cot or grange, Skyward ascending from a woody dell. Meek aspirations please her, lone endeavour, And sage content, and placid melancholy; She loves to gaze upon a crystal river -- Diaphanous because it travels slowly; Soft is the music that would charm for ever; The flower of sweetest smell is shy and lowly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RIVALRY IN LOVE by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707) TO THE VERS LIBRIST WHO USES ONLY THE MINOR KEY by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS ABER STATIONS: STATIO SECUNDA by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 4. NOT THE ACCEPTED TIME by EDWARD CARPENTER A CHILD IS BORN by EDWARD RALPH CHEYNEY ASPIRATION by VIRGINIA WOODSON FRAME CHURCH |