Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY, by JOHN STERLING (1806-1844)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O unseen spirit! Now a calm divine
Last Line: Unhaunted by a dream of storm or strife.
Subject(s): Nature


O UNSEEN Spirit! now a calm divine
Comes forth from thee, rejoicing earth and air!
Trees, hills, and houses, all distinctly shine,
And thy great ocean slumbers everywhere.
The mountain ridge against the purple sky
Stands clear and strong, with darkened rocks and dells,
And cloudless brightness opens wide and high
A home aerial, where thy presence dwells.
The chime of bells remote, the murmuring sea,
The song of birds in whispering copse and wood,
The distant voice of children's thoughtless glee,
And maiden's songs, are all one voice of good.
Amid the leaves' green mass a sunny play
Of flash and shadow stirs like inward life:
The ship's white sail glides onward far away,
Unhaunted by a dream of storm or strife.




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