Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WIND (2), by JOHN BANISTER TABB


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WIND (2), by             Poet's Biography
First Line: A gentle sigh of half regret
Last Line: My tongue control!
Alternate Author Name(s): Father Tabb


A gentle sigh of half regret
Thou breathest o'er me now,
Scarce wakening the leafy shade
That trembles on my brow;
And yet of direful visitants
The sternest thou.

Controlling all, of none controlled,
O'er earth and sky and sea,
Where'er thou listest, wandering,
A scourge or balm to be,
Thou bendest all to reverence
Thy majesty.

Thou scatterest the fleecy clouds,
And herdest them again
To pour upon the harvest lands
The bounty of the rain;
Then winnowest with lusty flail
The ripened grain.

In lordly blessings lordliest,
In malediction worst,
Thou fannest from a shadeless wing,
On multitudes accurst,
Wan famine, reeking pestilence,
And scarlet thirst.

The anger of the storm is thine,
The terror of the wave;
Old ocean in thy foamy wrath
Howls, smitten as a slave,
Or at thy whisperings of calm
Forgets to rave.

We see thee not, though everywhere
Thou compassest the eye;
Thyself, in silence mystical,
The subtle harmony
Of Nature's tuneful choir divine
Dost all supply.

Mute spirit, if thy pinions waft,
Unbidden o'er my soul,
The thoughts that as a tide of dreams
Involuntary roll,
Be thine the gift of utterance,
My tongue control!





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