On Hearing
William Lisle Bowles 1762 (King's Sutton) – 1850
O stay, harmonious and sweet sounds, that die
In the long vaultings of this ancient fane!
Stay, for I may not hear on earth again
Those pious airs--that glorious harmony;
Lifting the soul to brighter orbs on high,
Worlds without sin or sorrow! Ah, the strain
Has died--even the last sounds that lingeringly
Hung on the roof ere they expired!
And I
Stand in the world of strife, amidst a throng,
A throng that reckons not of death or sin!
Oh, jarring scenes! to cease, indeed, ere long;
The worm hears not the discord and the din;
But he whose heart thrills to this angel song
Feels the pure joy of heaven on earth begin!
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 35 sec read
- 119 Views
Quick analysis:
| Scheme | ABCDABEFAGHGHGH |
|---|---|
| Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
| Characters | 675 |
| Words | 117 |
| Stanzas | 1 |
| Stanza Lengths | 15 |
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"On Hearing" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/40906/on-hearing>.
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