Early Poems Author:James Russell Lowell Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: With the true Makers; for his spirit wrought Order from Chaos; proved that right divine Dwelt only in the excellence of Truth; And far within old Darkness" hosti... more »le lines Advanced and pitched the shining tents of Light. Nor shall the grateful muse forget to tell, That—not the least among his many claims To deathless honor—he was Milton's friend, A man not second among those who lived To show us that the poet's lyre demands An arm of tougher sinew than the sword. A SONG. Violet! sweet violet! Thine eyes are full of tears; Are they wet Even yet With the thought of other years, Or with gladness are they full, For the night so beautiful, And longing for those far-off spheres? Loved one of my youth thou wast, Of my merry youth, And I see, Tearfully, All the fair and sunny past, All its openness and truth, Ever fresh and green in thee As the moss is in the sea. Thy little heart, that hath with love Grown colored like the sky above, On which thou lookest ever,— Can it know All the woe Of hope for what returneth never, All the sorrow and the longing To those hearts of ours belonging' Out on it! no foolish pining For the sky Dims thine eye, Or for the stars so calmly shining; Like thee let this soul of mine Take hue from that wherefor I long, Self-stayed and high, serene and strong, Not satisfied with hoping—but divine. Violet1 dear violet! Thy blue eyes are only wet With joy and love of Him who sent thee, And for the fulfilling sense Of that glad obedience Which made thee all which Nature meant thee! THE MOON. My soul was like the sea Before the moon was made; Moaning in vague immensity, Of its own strength afraid, Unrestful and unstaid. Through every rift it foamed in vain About its earthly prison, Seeking some unknown thi...« less