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James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.

January 15

A Thought

By John Hall Ingham (1860–1931)

  • Suggested by the death of Fanny Kemble, January 15, 1893.


  • THE SOUL of Man, evolving more and more

    Life’s deeper meaning, slights the outer round

    Of mere display. The thrill that tells the ground

    Spring is above and Winter’s bondage o’er,

    The melodies that ripple on the shore,—

    Awake emotions stormy and profound

    As in the savage breast the thunderous sound

    Of avalanches or the earthquake’s roar.

    Thus she in whom men’s memories rejoice

    Forsook the mimic stage nor could endure

    The noisy mockeries that so arouse

    The raptures of the mob.—In that one voice

    More sweetly sang the birds on Arden’s boughs,

    More fiercely raged the madness of the Moor.