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2,201 Illustrations

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Poetry

From “Later Life”

VI We lack, yet cannot fix upon the lack: Not this, nor that; yet somewhat, certainly. We see the things we do not yearn to see Around us: and what see we glancing back?

Universal

Christina Rossetti

192 words

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Poetry

Brother Jonathan's Lament

SHE has gone,-- she has left us in passion and pride,-- Our stormy-browed sister, so long at our side! She has torn her own star from our firmament's glow, And turned on her brother the face of a foe!

Universal

Oliver Wendell Holmes

300 words

Poetry

Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-night

How Refer the cause?—Beloved, is it thou Or I, who makes me sad? The acolyte Amid the chanted joy and thankful rite May so fall flat, with pale insensate brow, On the altar-stair.

Universal

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Short98 words

Poetry

I rose -- because He sank --

I rose -- because He sank -- I thought it would be opposite -- But when his power dropped -- My Soul grew straight. I...

Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am dead

No longer mourn for me when I am dead Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that I am fled From this vile world with vilest worms to dwell: Nay, if you read this...

304. Song—I Murder hate

I MURDER hate by flood or field, Tho’ glory’s name may screen us; In wars at home I’ll spend my blood— Life-giving wars of Venus. The deities that I adore Are social Peace and Plenty; I’m better pleas’d to make...

Holy Sonnet VIII: If Faithful Souls Be Alike Glorified

If faithful souls be alike glorified As angels, then my fathers soul doth see, And adds this even to full felicity, That valiantly I hells wide mouth o'erstride: But if our minds to these souls be descried By circumstances, and...

These, I, Singing in Spring.

THESE, I, singing in spring, collect for lovers, (For who but I should understand lovers, and all their sorrow and joy?

494. Song—Farewell thou stream that winding flows

FAREWELL, thou stream that winding flows Around Eliza’s dwelling; O mem’ry! spare the cruel thoes Within my bosom swelling. Condemn’d to drag a hopeless chain And yet in secret languish; To feel a fire in every vein, Nor dare disclose my anguish.

The Happiest Day

The happiest day--the happiest hour My seared and blighted heart hath known, The highest hope of pride and power, I feel hath flown. Of power!...

Holy Sonnet XIII: What If This Present Were The World's Last Night?

Mark in my heart, O soul, where thou dost dwell, The picture of Christ crucified, and tell Whether that countenance can thee affright, Tears in his eyes quench the amazing light, Blood fills his frowns, which from his pierced head fell.

Death, To The Dead For Evermore

DEATH, to the dead for evermore A King, a God, the last, the best of friends - Whene'er this mortal journey ends Death, like a...

Universal

Robert Louis Stevenson

152 words

Poetry

Homer's Hymn to the Moon

Daughters of Jove, whose voice is melody, Muses, who know and rule all minstrelsy Sing the wide-winged Moon! Around the earth, From her immortal head in Heaven shot forth, Far light is scattered--boundless glory springs; Where'er she spreads her many-beaming...

449. Song—The Flowery banks of Cree

HERE is the glen, and here the bower All underneath the birchen shade; The village-bell has told the hour, O what can stay my lovely maid? ’Tis not Maria’s whispering call; ’Tis but the balmy breathing gale, Mixt with some...

Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene

This is my play's last scene, here heavens appoint My pilgrimage's last mile; and my race Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace, My span's last inch, my minute's latest point, And gluttonous death, will instantly unjoint My body...

466. Ode for General Washington’s Birthday

NO Spartan tube, no Attic shell, No lyre Æolian I awake; ’Tis liberty’s bold note I swell, Thy harp, Columbia, let me take!

Sonnet 70: That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect

That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect, For slander's mark was ever yet the fair; The ornament of beauty is suspect, A crow that flies in heaven's sweetest air.

Sonnet 19 - The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise

XIX The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise; I barter curl for curl upon that mart, And from my poet's forehead to my heart Receive this lock which outweighs argosies,— As purply black, as erst to Pindar's eyes The dim purpureal...

Universal

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Short95 words

Poetry

Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oath

The first time that the sun rose on thine oath To love me, I looked forward to the moon To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon And quickly tied to make a lasting troth.

Universal

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

104 words

Poetry

Ossian's Address to the Sun in "Carthon."

thou that roll'st above thy glorious Fire, Round as the shield which grac'd my godlike Sire, Whence are the beams, O Sun! thy endless blaze, Which far eclipse each minor Glory's rays? Forth in thy Beauty here thou deign'st to shine!

Universal

George Gordon, Lord Byron

367 words

Poetry

324. Song—The Charms of Lovely Davies

O HOW shall I, unskilfu’, try The poet’s occupation? The tunefu’ powers, in happy hours, That whisper inspiration; Even they maun dare an effort mair Than aught they ever gave us, Ere they rehearse, in equal verse, The charms o’ lovely Davies.

375. Song—The Deuks dang o’er my Daddie

THE BAIRNS gat out wi’ an unco shout, The deuks dang o’er my daddie, O! The fien-ma-care, quo’ the feirrie auld wife, He was but a paidlin’ body, O! He paidles out, and he paidles in, An’ he paidles late and early, O!

I learned -- at least -- what Home could be --

I learned -- at least -- what Home could be -- How ignorant I had been Of pretty ways of Covenant -- How awkward at...

Spring and Fall: To a Young Child

Margaret, are you grieving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leaves, like the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?

Universal

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Short80 words