Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OF MUSIC, by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OF MUSIC, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The miner delves in caverns of the earth
Last Line: Life thrills, grows luminous-large, smells sweet with balm and myrrh.
Subject(s): Caves; Earth; Life; Mines & Miners; Music & Musicians; Sailing & Sailors; Sleep; Caverns; World; Seamen; Sails


THE miner delves in caverns of the earth
Away from God's dear light, from everything
That breedeth joy and hope and wholesome mirth.
Ah, heaven, how fair the change, how good to spring
Into the open, after dark and dearth!

The sailor gasps upon a sullen sea,
Shipwrecked, half mad for water, dying there;
Yet all the brine is but a mockery,
And devils leer along the burning air.
Then, rain! how all-divine that drink must be!

One, a world wanderer, drifts from strand to strand
For heedless years, -- but then is fain to roam
No more; he longs to clasp some kinsman's hand,
To sleep in sacred chambers of his home.
How blest the day he hails the loved, lost land!

But neither light, nor drink, nor home ways stir
Such rare delight, such infinite keen bliss
In them, as comes to me, a worshiper
Of music, when I hear it yearn and kiss:
Life thrills, grows luminous-large, smells sweet with balm and myrrh.





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