Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DESMOND, by THOMAS MOORE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DESMOND, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: By the feal's wave benighted
Last Line: Ranks next to divine!
Alternate Author Name(s): Little, Thomas
Variant Title(s): Desmond's Song
Subject(s): Feal (river), Ireland


BY the Feal's wave benighted,
Not a star in the skies,
To thy door by Love lighted,
I first saw those eyes.
Some voice whispered o'er me,
As the threshold I crost,
There was ruin before me;
If I loved, I was lost.

Love came, and brought sorrow
Too soon in his train;
Yet so sweet that to-morrow
'T were welcome again.
Though misery's full measure
My portion should be,
I would drain it with pleasure,
If poured out by thee.

You who call it dishonor
To bow to this flame,
If you've eyes, look but on her,
And blush while you blame.
Hath the pearl less whiteness
Because of its birth?
Hath the violet less brightness
For growing near earth?

No, -- man for his glory
To ancestry flies;
But woman's bright story
Is told in her eyes.
While the monarch but traces
Through mortals his line,
Beauty, born of the Graces,
Ranks next to divine!





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