Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MY DEAR SISTER, MRS. S.: THE CHAMBER, by WILLIAM HAMMOND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MY DEAR SISTER, MRS. S.: THE CHAMBER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Entering your door, I started back; sure this
Last Line: That all things mask their better qualities?
Subject(s): Houses; Mourning; Bereavement


ENTERING your door, I started back; sure this,
Said I, Death's shady house and household is;
And yonder shines a beauty, as of old
Magnificent tombs eternal lamps did hold,
In lieu of life's light, a fair taper hid
In a dark lanthorn; an eye shut in's lid;
A flower in shade; a star in night's dark womb;
An alabaster column to a tomb.
But why this night in day? Can thy fair eye
Delight in such an Aethiop's company?
Man hath too many natural clouds: his blood
And flesh so blind his hood-wink'd soul, that good
Is scarce discern'd from bad; why should we then
Seek out an artificial darksome den?
The better part of nature hidden lies;
The stars indeed we may behold, and skies,
But not their influence; we see the fire
But not the heat; why then should we desire
More night, when darkness so o'er nature lies,
That all things mask their better qualities?





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