Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SPIRIT-WHISPERS by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS

First Line: WAKE! POET, WAKE! - THE MORN HAS BURST
Last Line: RULED BY RESISTLESS TEARS ALONE!

(@3Spirit-whisper in the poet's ear@1 -- MORNING.)
WAKE! poet, wake! -- the morn has burst
Through gates of stars and dew,
And, wing'd by prayer since evening nursed,
Has fled to kiss the steeples first,
And now stoops low to you!
Oh, poet of the loving eye,
For you is dress'd this morning sky!

(@3Second whisper@1 -- NOON.)
Oh, poet of the pen enchanted!
A lady sits beneath a tree!
At last, the flood for which she panted --
The wild words for her anguish wanted,
Have gush'd in song from thee!
Her dark curls sweep her knees to pray: --
"God bless the poet far away!"

(@3Third whisper@1 -- MIDNIGHT.)
King of the heart's deep mysteries!
Your words have wings like lightning wove!
This hour, o'er hills and distant seas,
They fly like flower-seeds on the breeze,
And sow the world with love!
King of a realm without a throne,
Ruled by resistless tears alone!



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