Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNET: SHELLEY, by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE


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SONNET: SHELLEY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Because they thought his doctrines were not just
Last Line: His seal hath not been set to man's decree.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Shelley, Percy Bysshe (1792-1822)


BECAUSE they thought his doctrines were not just,
Mankind assumed for him the chastening rod,
And tyrants reared in pride, and strong in lust,
Wounded the noblest of the sons of God;
The heart's most cherished benefactions riven,
Basely they strove to humble and malign
A soul whose charities were wide as heaven,
Whose deeds, if not his doctrines, were divine;
And in the name of Him, whose sunshine warms
The evil as the righteous, deemed it good
To wreak their bigotry's relentless storms
On one whose nature was not understood.
Ah, well! God's ways are wondrous; it may be
His seal hath not been set to man's decree.





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