Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.
V. To Mrs. SigourneyJames Dixon (18141873)
W
Around me were the wonders of the past;
And modern Art, on every side, had cast
Her gems of richest beauty. Yet methought
These were scarce worthy thee. At length I stood,
One Sabbath eve, beside the grave of K
The turf was bright with flowers that gave their sweets
To the soft night-air, as in mournful mood:
Sad thoughts came o’er me, and I could have wept
That all the hopes that in the Poet’s heart,
As in a sanctuary, had been kept,
Could fade so soon, and perish, and depart;
I plucked this flower for thee, the Muses’ happiest daughter,
And joyed to think thy name should ne’er be “writ in water.”