Sonnet 02

Henry Timrod 1828 (Charleston) – 1867 (Columbia)



Most men know love but as a part of life;
They hide it in some corner of the breast,
Even from themselves; and only when they rest
In the brief pauses of that daily strife,
Wherewith the world might else be not so rife,
They draw it forth (as one draws forth a toy
To soothe some ardent, kiss-exacting boy)
And hold it up to sister, child, or wife.
Ah me! why may not love and life be one?
Why walk we thus alone, when by our side,
Love, like a visible God, might be our guide?
How would the marts grow noble! and the street,
Worn like a dungeon-floor by weary feet,
Seem then a golden court-way of the Sun!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
86

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAACCADEEFFD
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 602
Words 123
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Henry Timrod

Henry Timrod was an American poet, often called the poet laureate of the Confederacy. more…

All Henry Timrod poems | Henry Timrod Books

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