Sister Songs: An Offering to Two Sisters

Sister Songs: An Offering to Two Sisters

This poem, though new in the sense of being now for the first time printed, was written some four years ago, about the same date as the Hound of Heaven in my former volume. One image in the Proem was an unconscious plagiarism from the beautiful image in Mr. Patmores St. Valentines Day: Finding I could not disengage it without injury to the passage in which it is embedded, I have preferred to leave it, with this acknowledgment to a Poet rich enough to lend to the poor. FRANCIS THOMPSON. 1895. p. vTo Monica and Madeline (Sylvia) Meynell Shrewd winds and shrillwere these the speech of May? A ragged, slag-grey skyinvested so, Marys spoilt nursling! wert thou wont to go? Or thou, Sun-god and song-god, say Could singer pipe one tiniest linnet-lay, While Song did turn away his face from song? Or who could be In spirit or in body hale for long, Old sculaps best Master!lacking thee? p. 2At length, then, thou art here! On the earths lethd ear Thy voice of light rings out exultant, strong; Through dreams she stirs and murmurs at that summons dear: From its red leash my heart strains tamelessly, For Spring leaps in the womb of the young year! Nay, was it not brought forth before, And we waited, to behold it, Till the suns hand should unfold it, What the years young bosom bore? Even so; it came, nor knew we that it came, In the suns eclipse. Yet the birds have plighted vows, And from the branches pipe each others name; Yet the season all the boughs Has kindled to the finger-tips, Mark yonder, how the long laburnum drips Its jocund spilth of fire, its honey of wild flame! Yea, and myself put on swift quickening, And answer to the presence of a sudden Spring. From cloud-zoned pinnacles of the secret spirit p. 3Song falls precipitant in dizzying streams; And, like a mountain-hold when war-shouts stir it, The minds recessd fastness casts to light Its gleaming multitudes, that from every height Unfurl the flaming of a thousand dreams. Now therefore, thou who bringst the year to birth, Who guidst the bare and dabbled feet of May; Sweet stem to that rose Christ, who from the earth Suckst our poor prayers, conveying them to Him; Be aidant, tender Lady, to my lay! Of thy two maidens somewhat must I say, Ere shadowy twilight lashes, drooping, dim Days dreamy eyes from us; Ere eve has struck and furled The beamy-textured tent transpicuous, Of webbd coerule wrought and woven calms, Whence has paced forth the lambent-footed sun. And Thou disclose my flower of song upcurled, Who from Thy fair irradiant palms Scatterest all love and loveliness as alms; Yea, Holy One, Who coinst Thyself to beauty for the world! ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 1731
Author: Thompson, Francis
Release Date: May 1, 1999
Format: eBook
Language: English