Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DYING IMPROVISATORE, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The spirit of my land Last Line: Sweet friends! Bright land! Farewell! Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Death; Farewell; Italy; Dead, The; Parting; Italians | ||||||||
THE spirit of my land, It visits me once more! -- though I must die Far from the myrtles which thy breeze hath fanned, My own bright Italy! It is, it is thy breath, Which stirs my soul e'en yet, as wavering flame Is shaken by the wind, -- in life and death Still trembling, yet the same! Oh! that love's quenchless power Might waft my voice to fill thy summer sky, And through thy groves its dying music shower, Italy! Italy! The nightingale is there, The sunbeam's glow, the citron-flower's perfume, The south wind's whisper in the scented air -- It will not pierce the tomb! Never, oh! never more, On thy Rome's purple heaven mine eye shall dwell, Or watch the bright waves melt along thy shore -- My Italy! farewell! Alas! -- thy hills among Had I but left a memory of my name, Of love and grief one deep, true, fervent song, Unto immortal fame! But like a lute's brief tone, Like a rose-odor on the breezes cast, Like a swift flush of dayspring, seen and gone So hath my spirit passed -- Pouring itself away As a wild bird amidst the foliage turns That which within him triumphs, beats, or burns, Into a fleeting lay; That swells, and floats, and dies, Leaving no echo to the summer woods Of the rich breathings and impassioned sighs Which thrilled their solitudes. Yet, yet remember me! Friends! that upon its murmurs oft have hung, When from my bosom, joyously and free, The fiery fountain sprung. Under the dark rich blue Of midnight heavens, and on the star-lit sea, And when woods kindle into spring's first hue, Sweet friends! remember me! And in the marble halls, Where life's full glow the dreams of beauty wear, And poet-thoughts embodied light the walls, Let me be with you there! Fain would I bind for you, My memory with all glorious things to dwell! Fain bid all lovely sounds my name renew -- Sweet friends! bright land! farewell! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...1851: A MESSAGE TO DENMARK HILL by RICHARD HOWARD TONIGHT THE HEART-SHAPED LEAVES by JAN HELLER LEVI JEWISH GRAVEYARDS, ITALY by PHILIP LEVINE SAILING HOME FROM RAPALLO by ROBERT LOWELL SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW by LISEL MUELLER HOW DUKE VALENTINE CONTRIVED by BASIL BUNTING FRAGMENTS FROM ITALY: 1 by JOHN CIARDI A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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