Latest quotes | Random quotes | Latest comments | Submit quote

Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton

Sonnet II

RAPHAEL.

BLESS'D wert thou, whom Death, and not Decay,
Bore from the world on swift and shadowy wings,
Ere age or weakness dimm'd one brilliant ray
Of thy rapt spirit's high imaginings,
While yet thy heart was full of fervid love,
And thou wert haunted by resistless dreams
Of all in earth beneath, or Heaven above,
On which the light of beauty richest gleams,--
Dead, but not deathlike, wert thou borne along;
Silent and cold, oh thou that didst combinc
Sculpture, and painting, and the gift of song;
While on thy brow, and on that work divine
Borne with thee, glow'd from thine Italian sky
A light whose glory spoke of inmmortality!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet X

TO TAGLIONI.

SPIRIT of Grace, whose airy footsteps fall
So lightly! sure the looker-on must be
Most dull of fancy who doth not recall
Some sweet comparison to picture thee!
The white snow, drifing in its soundless showers,--
The young bird resting on a summer-bough,--
The south-wind bending down the opening flowers,--
The clear wave lifted with a gentle flow,--
Rippling and bright, advancing and retreating,
Curling around the rock its dancing spray,
Like a fair child whose kiss of gentle greeting
Woos a companion to make holiday,--
Such are the thoughts of beauty round me shed,
While pleased my eyes pursue thy light elastic tread.

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet XIX

But since, in all that brief Life's narrow scope,
No day pass'd by without some gentle deed,
Let us not 'mourn like them that have no hope,'
Though sharp the stroke,--and suddenly decreed;
For still, when Spring puts out her tender leaves,
And Nature's beauty seems to bud in vain,
(Since then the yearning spirit doubly grieves
With fresh remembrance of unconquer'd pain,)
Returns the precious memory of all
The grace and goodness of that creature fair,
Whom it pleased God in early days to call
From this dim world of trouble, toil, and care,--
And seldom is such bless'd conviction given
That She we mourn on Earth is now a Saint in Heaven!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet XI

GREEN avenue, whose shadow dim and sweet
Pleasantly shelter'd me in days of yore,
Dear lost companion, whose slow-pacing feet
Then wander'd with me on that moss-paved floor,--
Still, like a natural temple, spring those trees,
Their column'd stems high-arching over-head?
Still dost THOU love, while sighs the murmuring breeze,
At Summer eve that velvet path to tread?
Then, gentle friend, in whose unworldly eyes,
And on whose calm, serene, expressive brow,
The light of many a prayer reflected lies,
As thou with Heaven didst constant commune know,--
Though, in this world, divided we must be,
Kneel in that quiet spot, and pray to God for ME!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet III

THE FORNARINA.

AND bless'd was she thou lovedst, for whose sake
Thy wit did veil in fanciful disguise
The answer which thou wert compell'd to make
To Rome's High Priest, and call'd her then 'Thine Eyes;'
Tho' of her life obscure there is no trace,
Save where its thread with THY bright history twines,--
Tho' all we know of her be that sweet face
Whose nameless beauty from thy canvass shines,--
Dependent still upon her Raphael's fame,
And but recorded by her low degree,
As one who had in life no higher claim
Than to be painted and be loved by thee;--
Yet would I be forgot, as she is now,
Once to have press'd my lips on that seraphic brow!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet XVIII

SINCE in the pleasant time of opening flowers
That flow'r, Her life, was doom'd to fade away,--
Since Her dear loss hath shaded lovely hours,
And turn'd to mourning all the smiles of May,--
Henceforward when the warm soft breath of Spring
Bids cowslips star the meadows, thick and sweet;
When doves are in the green wood murmuring,
And children wander with delighted feet;
When, by their own rich beauty downward bent,
Soft Guelder-roses hang their tufts of snow,
And purple lilacs yield a fagrant scent,
And bright laburnum droops its yellow bough;--
Let that Spring-time be welcomed with a sigh,
For Her lamented Rake,--who was so young to die!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet XIII

THE WEAVER.

LITTLE they think, the giddy and the vain,
Wandering at pleasure 'neath the shady trees,
While the light glossy silk or rustling train
Shines in the sun or flutters in the breeze,
How the sick weaver plies the incessant loom,
Crossing in silence the perplexing thread,
Pent in the confines of one narrow room,
Where droops complainingly his cheerless head:--
Little they think with what dull anxious eyes,
Nor by what nerveless, thin, and trembling hands,
The devious mingling of those various dyes
Were wrought to answer Luxury's commands:
But the day cometh when the tired shall rest,--
Where weary Lazarus leans his head on Abraham's breast!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet IX

TO THE COUNTESS HELÉNE ZAVADOWSKY.

WHEN our young Queen put on her rightful crown
In Gothic Westminster's long-hallow'd walls,
The eye upon no lovelier sight look'd down
Than thou, fair Russian! Memory still recalls
The soft light of thy sapphire-colour'd eyes,
The rich twine of thy simply-braided hair,
And the low murmur of the crowd's surprise
To see thee pass along so strangely fair.
Nor didst thou charm by looks and smiles alone,--
Thy 'broken English' had its share of grace;
For something in thy accent and thy tone
So match'd the beauty of thy gentle face,
We seem'd to hear our old familiar words
Set to some foreign lute or harp's melodious chords!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dreams

SURELY I heard a voice-surely my name
Was breathed in tones familiar to my heart!
I listened-and the low wind stealing came,
In darkness and in silence to depart.

Surely I saw a form, a proud bright form,
Standing beside my couch! I raised mine eyes:
'Twas but a dim cloud, herald of a storm,
That floated through the grey and twilight skies.

Surely the brightness of the summer hour
Hath suddenly burst upon the circling gloom!
I dream; 'twas but the perfume of a flower,
Which the breeze wafted through the silent room.

Surely a hand clasped mine with greetings fond!
A name is murmured by my lips with pain;
Woe for that sound-woe for love's broken bond.
I start-I wake-I am alone again!

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share

Sonnet XV

TO MISS AUGUSTA COWELL.
[To whom I owe the popularity of some of my favourite ballads.]

WHEN thy light fingers touch th' obedient chords,
Which, with a gentle murmur, low respond,
Waiting the measure of the coming words
From that sweet voice, so plaintive, sad, and fond,--
Say does some wingéd Ariel, hovering near,
Teach thee his island music note for note,
That thou may'st copy with an echo clear
Th' enchanted symphonies that round thee float?
Or do all Melodies, whilst thou art playing,
(Each with the offering of some chorded sound,)
On the low slanting sunbeam earthward straying,
Like meek subservient spirits wander round;
In Harmony's dim language asking thee
Which of them, for the hour, shall thy attendant be?

poem by Caroline Elizabeth Sarah NortonReport problemRelated quotes
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Share
 

<< < Page / 12 > >>

If you know another quote, please submit it.

Search


Recent searches | Top searches