BEFORE the listening world behold him stand; The warm air trembles with his passionate play; Their cheers shower round him like the ocean spray Round one who waits upon the stormy strand. Their smiles, sighs, tears all are at his command; And now they hear the trump of judgment-day, And now one silver note to heaven doth stray And fluttering fall upon the golden sand. But like the murmur of the distant sea Their loud applause, and far off, faint, and weak Sounds his own music to him, wild and free -- Far from the soul of music that doth speak In wordless wail and lyric ecstasy From that good viol pressed against his cheek. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? by PAUL VERLAINE THIS LIME-TREE BOWER MY PRISON by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH: BOOK 3. ON WASHING by JOHN ARMSTRONG THE VIGIL OF JOSEPH by ELSA BARKER THE WOLD WAGGON by WILLIAM BARNES HUMANE REVENGE by JOSEPH BEAUMONT |