Poem by Thomas Hood

To an Enthusiast

 Sonnet

Young ardent soul, graced with fair Nature's truth,
Spring warmth of heart, and fervency of mind,
And still a large late love of all thy kind.
Spite of the world's cold practice and Time's tooth,—
For all these gifts, I know not, in fair sooth,
Whether to give thee joy, or bid thee blind
Thine eyes with tears,—that thou hast not resign'd
The passionate fire and freshness of thy youth:
For as the current of thy life shall flow,
Gilded by shine of sun or shadow-stain'd,
Through flow'ry valley or unwholesome fen,
Thrice blessed in thy joy, or in thy woe
Thrice cursed of thy race,—thou art ordain'd
To share beyond the lot of common men. 

1. Ballad (She's up and gone, the graceless girl)
2. The Departure of Summer
3. The Boy at the Nore
4. To My Daughter on Her Birthday
5. To Fancy

Print

1886 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version