Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNET TO A BUTTERFLY, by HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET TO A BUTTERFLY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Forth to thy bright existence of an hour
Last Line: Never to sorrow more, nor doubt, nor die?
Alternate Author Name(s): Forester, Frank
Subject(s): Butterflies; Insects; Bugs


Forth to thy bright existence of an hour,
Thou painted meteor -- floating on the stream
Of summer sunshine, drinking from the beam
New youth, new beauty from the perfumed flower!
Thou type of endless life, thou sign of power,
But now a reptile writhing in the gloom --
The dust of earth. At eve a living tomb;
At morn a spirit blest in Eden's bower.
What are the sons of Adam? Do they soar
In virtue's clear security, or creep
Through tears and labor to the dusky shore
Of cold obstruction and mysterious sleep,
Thence, at the trumpet's peal, to burst on high --
Never to sorrow more, nor doubt, nor die?





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