Poems (Hornblower)/The Poet's Gift
POEMS.
THE POET'S GIFT.
Oh! guard the Poet's gift—an eye Of purified and searching fight—A heart of sacred mystery, And inward springs of deep delight.
Oh! guard the Poet's gift—a lyre That thrills with strange and wandering chords,Yet can a richer bliss inspire Than ever yet was breathed in words.
Oh! guard the Poet's gift—a shrine Of unseen worship—music high,Yet clear, exalted, and divine— An altar kept for Deity.
The world's cold winds must come not there Where flowers of Paradise unfold;No cheerless doubts, no wildering care, No mammon worship dark and old.
For there doth Wisdom keep his hoard, And Fancy revel clear and bright;With every noble feeling stored, That inward world is all of light.
For nature's hymn is singing there, For ever solemn, ever sweet;And, faraway, the clouds of care Refuse those joyous strains to meet.
Then guard the Poet's sacred gift, Through every change—in every scene—O'er life's dull cares thy heart to lift To faith sublime, to hope serene!
And strike in holy trust thy lyre— For day by day, and year by year,The notes shall thrill with purer fire, "And sweeter music charm thine ear."