Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON AN ICICLE THAT CLUNG TO THE GRASS OF A GRAVE, by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Oh! Take the pure gem to where southerly breezes Last Line: To shed on the grave of a heart so sincere. | ||||||||
I OH! take the pure gem to where southerly breezes Waft repose to some bosom as faithful as fair, In which the warm current of love never freezes, As it rises unmingled with selfishness there, Which, untainted with pride, unpolluted by care, Might dissolve the dim ice-drop, might bid it arise, Too pure for these regions, to gleam in the skies. II Or where the stern warrior, his country defending, Dares fearless the dark-rolling battle to pour, Or o'er the fell corpse of a dread tyrant bending, Where patriotism red with his guiltreeking gore Plants liberty's flag on the slave-peopled shore, With victory's cry, with the shout of the free, Let it fly, taintless spirit, to mingle with thee. III For I found the pure gem, when the day-beam returning Ineffectual gleams on the snow-covered plain, When to others the wished-for arrival of morning Brings relief to long visions of soulracking pain; But regret is an insult -- to grieve is in vain: And why should we grieve that a spirit so fair Seeks Heaven to mix with its own kindred there? IV But still 't was some spirit of kindness descending To share in the load of mortality's woe, Who over thy lowly-built sepulchre bending Bade sympathy's tenderest tear-drop to flow. Not for thee soft compassion celestials did know, But if angels can weep, sure man may repine, May weep in mute grief o'er thy low-laid shrine. V And did I then say, for the altar of glory, That the earliest, the loveliest of flowers I'd entwine, Though with millions of blood-reeking victims 't was gory, Though the tears of the widow polluted its shrine, Though around it the orphans, the fatherless pine? O Fame, all thy glories I'd yield for a tear To shed on the grave of a heart so sincere. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ADONAIS; AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF JOHN KEATS by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY ALASTOR; OR, THE SPIRIT OF SOLITUDE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY AUTUMN: A DIRGE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY ENGLAND IN 1819 by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY EPIPSYCHIDION by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY FEELINGS OF A REPUBLICAN ON THE FALL OF BONAPARTE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY HYMN OF PAN by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY MONT BLANC; LINES WRITTEN IN THE VALE OF CHAMOUNI by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY |
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