O precious evenings! all too swiftly sped! Leaving us heirs to amplest heritages Of all the best thoughts of the greatest sages, And giving tongues unto the silent dead! How our hearts glowed and trembled as she read, Interpreting by tones the wondrous pages Of the great poet who foreruns the ages, Anticipating all that shall be said! O happy Reader! having for thy text The magic book, whose Sibylline leaves have caught The rarest essence of all human thought! O happy Poet! by no critic vext! How must thy listening spirit now rejoice To be interpreted by such a voice! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BALLROOM DARK by CLARENCE MAJOR OLD TRAILS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON LEAVING THE HARBOR by LOUIS UNTERMEYER OUTWARD BOUND by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH HOLY CROSS DAY by ROBERT BROWNING THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE GENERAL PROLOGUE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER |