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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A SONNET TO OPIUM; CELEBRATING ITS VIRTUES by ORESTES [PSEUD.]

First Line: SOUL-SOOTHING DRUG! YOUR VIRTUES LET ME LAUD
Last Line: WHEN MADDENING RAPTURE GOADS TO MY VICE MY THROBBING SENSE
Subject(s): DRUGS & DRUG ABUSE;POETRY & POETS;

SOUL-SOOTHING drug! your virtues let me laud,
Which can with sov'reign sway
Force lawless passion into harmless play!
Oft have I owned your pow'r
In many a moody hour,
When grief with viper-tooth my heart hath gnawed.
Still friendly to the plaintive muse,
You can a balm infuse.
If, sick with hopeless love,
Too tenderly I mourn,
You can the shaft of anguish quick remove;
Or make desire's destructive flame less fiercely burn:
Guardian you are of Julia's innocence,
When madd'ning rapture goads to vice my throbbing sense.



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