Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UPON A SWEET-BRIAR, by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UPON A SWEET-BRIAR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: My briar [or, brier] that smellest sweet
Last Line: More loving than the song my grateful muse shall give.
Variant Title(s): The Brier
Subject(s): Brier; Briar


MY briar that smelledst sweet
When gentle spring's first heat
Ran through thy quiet veins, --
Thou that wouldst injure none,
But wouldst be left alone,
Alone thou leavest me, and nought of thine remains.

What! hath no poet's lyre
O'er thee, sweet-breathing briar,
Hung fondly, ill or well?
And yet methinks with thee
A poet's sympathy,
Whether in weal or woe, in life or death, might dwell.

Hard usage both must bear,
Few hands your youth will rear,
Few bosoms cherish you;
Your tender prime must bleed
Ere you are sweet, but freed
From life, you then are prized; thus prized are poets too.

. . . . . . . .

And art thou yet alive?
And shall the happy hive
Send out her youth to cull
Thy sweets of leaf and flower,
And spend the sunny hour
With thee, and thy faint heart with murmuring music lull?

Tell me what tender care,
Tell me what pious prayer,
Bade thee arise and live.
The fondest-favoured bee
Shall whisper nought to thee
More loving than the song my grateful muse shall give.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net