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SONNETS: 9. GEORGE MEREDITH by NEWMAN HOWARD

First Line: WOVEN OF SUNLIGHT WAS HIS DEEP ROMANCE
Last Line: TRIUMPHANT FUGUES ATHWART LIFE'S TRAGIC BASS.
Subject(s): FATE; HEARTS; NATURE; SOUL; DESTINY;

WOVEN of sunlight was his deep romance,
And waves, and woodland green, and flashing dew;
A labyrinth there, man's soul, and his the clue;
And laughing elves, who twitch to a 'vitus dance
The cockerel strut of cant and arrogance;
And, fresh as tossing boughs across the blue,
Fair through all flaws, strong women, staunch and true,
Sweet essence wrung from poignant circumstance.

For, seer and singer, long he dwelt apart,
Nourished in secret Nature's close embrace,
Taught in her lap to know the Father's heart,
To glean a light from Fate's averted face,
And chime with crashing chords of godlike art
Triumphant fugues athwart life's tragic bass.



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