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Home  »  The Book of the Sonnet  »  Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830–1886)

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

II. “Pent in this common sphere of sensual shows”

Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830–1886)

PENT in this common sphere of sensual shows,

I pine for beauty,—beauty of fresh mien,

And gentle utterance, and the charm serene,

Wherewith the hue of mystic dreamland glows;

I pine for lulling music, the repose

Of low-voiced waters, in some realm between

The perfect Aidenn, and this clouded scene

Of love’s sad loss, and passion’s mournful throes;

A pleasant country, girt with twilight calm,

In whose fair heaven a moon of shadowy round

Wades through a fading fall of sunset rain;

Where drooping lotos flowers, distilling balm,

Dream by the drowsy streamlets Sleep hath crowned,

And Care forgets to sigh, and Patience conquers Pain.