Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE AND FAME, by HELEN W. IRVING


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOVE AND FAME, by                    
First Line: It had passed in all its grandeur, that sounding summer shower
Last Line: And he sought her sadly sorrowing -- a tear-dimmed star of dew.
Subject(s): Fame; Love; Reputation


IT had passed in all its grandeur, that sounding summer shower
Had paid its pearly tribute to each fair expectant flower,
And, while a thousand sparklers danced lightly on the spray,
Close folded to a rose-bud's heart, one tiny rain-drop lay.

Throughout each fevered petal had the heaven-brought freshness gone,
They had mingled dew and fragrance till their very souls were one;
The bud, its love in perfume breathed, till its pure and starry guest
Grew glowing as the life-hue of the lips it fondly pressed.

He dreamed away the hours with her, his gentle bride and fair,
No thought filled his young spirit, but to dwell for ever there
While ever bending wakefully, the bud a fond watch kept,
For fear the envious zephyrs might steal him as he slept.

But forth from out his tent of clouds in burnish'd armour bright,
The conq'ring sun came, proudly, in the glory of his might,
And like some grand enchanter, resumed his wand of power,
And shed the splendour of his smile on lake, and tree, and flower.

Then peering through the shadowy leaves, the rain-drop marked on high,
A many-hued triumphal arch span all the eastern sky --
He saw his glittering comrades all wing their joyous flight,
And stand, a glorious brotherhood, to form that bow of light!

Aspiring thoughts his spirit thrilled -- "Oh, let me join them, love!
I'll set thy beauty's impress on yon bright arch above,
And, as a world's admiring gaze is raised to Iris fair,
'T will deem my own dear rose-bud's tint, the loveliest colour there!"

The gentle bud released her clasp -- swift as a thought he flew,
And brightly 'mid that glorious band he soon was glowing, too --
All quivering with delight to feel, that she, his rose-bud bride,
Was gazing, with a swelling heart, on this, his hour of pride!

But the shadowy night came down, at last -- the glittering bow was gone,
One little hour of triumph, was all the drop had won;
He had lost the warm and tender glow, his distant bud-love's hue,
And he sought her sadly sorrowing -- a tear-dimmed star of dew.





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