Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CAPRICE, by FRANCES SARGENT OSGOOD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CAPRICE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Reprove me not that still I change
Last Line: We'll chase the light, caprice!
Alternate Author Name(s): Vane, Violet
Subject(s): Independence; Love; Nature; Soul


Reprove me not that still I change
With every changing hour,
For glorious Nature gives me leave
In wave, and cloud, and flower.

And you and all the world would do --
If all but dared -- the same;
True to myself -- if false to you,
Why should I reck your blame?

Then cease your carping, cousin mine --
Your vain reproaches cease;
I revel in my right divine --
I glory in caprice!

You soft, light cloud, at morning hour
Look'd dark and full of tears:
At noon it seem'd a rosy flower --
Now, gorgeous gold appears.

So yield I to the deepening light
That dawns around my way:
Because you linger with the night,
Shall I my noon delay?

No! cease your carping, cousin mine --
Your cold reproaches cease;
The chariot of the cloud be mine --
Take thou the reins, Caprice!

'Tis true you play'd on Feeling's lyre
A pleasant tune or two,
And oft beneath your minstrel fire
The hours in music flew;

But when a hand more skill'd to sweep
The harp, its soul allures,
Shall it in sullen silence sleep
Because not touch'd by yours!

Oh, there are rapturous tones in mine
That mutely pray release;
They wait the master-hand divine --
So tune the chords, Caprice!

Go -- strive the sea-wave to control;
Or, wouldst thou keep me thine,
Be thou all being to my soul,
And fill each want divine:

Play every string in Love's sweet lyre --
Set all its music flowing;
Be air, and dew, and light, and fire,
To keep the soul-flower growing;

Be less -- thou art no love of mine,
So leave my love in peace;
'Tis helpless woman's right divine --
Her only right -- caprice!

And I will mount her opal car,
And draw the rainbow reins,
And gayly go from star to star,
Till not a ray remains;

And we will find all fairy flowers
That are to mortals given,
And wreathe the radiant, changing hours,
With those "sweet hints" of heaven.

Her humming-birds are harness'd there --
Oh! leave their wings in peace;
Like "flying gems" they glance in air --
We'll chase the light, Caprice!





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