Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HELEN'S TOWER, by ROBERT BROWNING


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HELEN'S TOWER, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Who hears of helen's tower, may dream
Last Line: When all the morning-stars together sang.
Subject(s): Ireland; Sheridan, Helen Selina (1807-1867); Irish; Dufferin, Lady; Gifford, Lady


Written at the request of the Earl of Dufferin
and Clandeboye, who had built a tower to the
memory of his mother, Helen, Countess of
Giffard, on a rock on his estate at Clandeboye,
Ireland, and printed in the Pall Mall Gazette of
December 2', 1883.

WHO hears of Helen's Tower, may dream perchance
How the Greek Beauty from the Scaean Gate
Gazed on old friends unanimous in hate,
Death-doom'd because of her fair countenance.

Hearts would leap otherwise, at thy advance,
Lady, to whom this Tower is consecrate!
Like hers, thy face once made all eyes elate,
Yet, unlike hers, was bless'd by every glance.

The Tower of Hate is outworn, far and strange:
A transitory shame of long ago,
It dies into the sand from which it sprang;
But thine, Love's rock-built Tower, shall fear no change:
God's self laid stable earth's foundation so,
When all the morning-stars together sang.





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