Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DIDACTIC POET, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DIDACTIC POET, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not only where the universal mind
Last Line: Forever more shall dwell.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets


Not only where the universal mind
In leafy sport and iridescent play,
With color, form, and fragrances combined,
Creates a summer day, --

Not only in the driftings of the sky,
The sunny-hearted shadow of the tree,
The brooklet's glimmer as it hurries by,
God's glory may I see;

But look! a radiant sunrise in the soul!
And see! the foliaged graces of content!
And hark! the harmonies that over-roll
A spirit's continent!

No beauty of the earth or sea or air,
That sings or undulates or softly gleams,
But fairer far and endlessly more fair
Lies in the land of dreams.

What wight that sees Niagara, and goes
Hushed and with awful reverence, but, within,
A deeper, more impetuous torrent knows, --
The cataract of sin?

What mother, whose enraptured study spells
Each dimple of the babe she bends above,
But cradled in her gracious bosom dwells
The sweeter birth of love?

My tender Charles with many a shadowed curve
Winds in long leagues of beauty to the sea,
And all its mirrored delicacies serve
A constant feast to me;

But by its side throughout the happy year
Flows level and serene a human life,
The holy lovelinesses pure and clear
Of daughter, mother, wife.

And ever from the world of painted form,
Howe'er its shifting phantasies allure,
I turn me to her welcome, quick and warm
And marvellously sure.

Here is the truth, were all besides a lie;
Yea, here is heaven, were all besides a hell;
And here, in thought and word, dear Love and I
Forever more shall dwell.





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