Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WORDS, by HAROLD CALEB DALTON



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WORDS, by                    
First Line: If music could be loosened from its bars
Last Line: When she stood white, above her wordless dead.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dalton, Power
Subject(s): Language; Words; Vocabulary


If music could be loosened from its bars,
And melody could rise untrammeled, high!
Beating impetuous wings against the sky,
Tearing in passion at the shaken stars;
If music could hold color of wild birds
Deep ivory-black, rose madder, crystal jade,
And moon-blown gold, and every tint and shade, --
Then music would be beautiful as words.

Words give earth color and all harmonies.
The scarlet sounds Giovanni's rage imbued
With crimson -- such, tint Mycerinus' knees;
Song flamed on Tristan's lips when Iseult wooed;
And viols sobbed in mauve, words Mary said,
When she stood white, above her Wordless Dead.





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