To the Muses

William Blake 1757 (Soho) – 1827 (London)



Whether on Ida's shady brow,
         Or in the chambers of the East,
     The chambers of the sun, that now
         From ancient melody have ceas'd;

     Whether in Heav'n ye wander fair,
         Or the green corners of the earth,
     Or the blue regions of the air,
         Where the melodious winds have birth;

     Whether on crystal rocks ye rove,
       Beneath the bosom of the sea
   Wand'ring in many a coral grove,
       Fair Nine, forsaking Poetry!

   How have you left the ancient love
      That bards of old enjoy'd in you!
   The languid strings do scarcely move!
       The sound is forc'd, the notes are few!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

32 sec read
213

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF XGXG
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 624
Words 102
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

William Blake

William Blake was an English poet, painter and printmaker. more…

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