Anonymous

WONDERFUL Spirit!—whose eternal shrine

Is in great poets’ souls, whose voice doth send

High truths and dreams prophetic without end

Into the blind world from those founts divine,—

Deep adoration from such souls is thine;

But I have loved thee, spirit, as a friend,

Wooed thee, in pensive leisure, but to lend

Thy sweetness to this wayward heart of mine,

And charm my lone thoughts into joyousness.

And I have found that thou canst lay aside

Thy terrors and thy glory and thy pride;

Quit thy proud temples for a calm recess

In lowly hearts, and dream sweet hours away,

Winning from sterner thoughts a frequent holiday.