Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, JENNY LIND, by GEORGE LUNT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JENNY LIND, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whence com'st thou, jenny lind
Last Line: Is on record in the sky!
Subject(s): Nature; Singing & Singers


WHENCE com'st thou, Jenny Lind,
Looking thus unkith'd, unkinn'd
With the crowd of common natures,—
But away, with higher creatures,
Claiming, somewhere, loftier birth,
'Twixt the heaven and the earth?
Spirit,—soul,—voice,—breath,—oh say,
Art thou made of common clay?
Soul, of Music's holiest tone,
Voice, from realms to earth unknown,
Spirit, gushing through all bound,
Breath, that faints in mellow sound,—
By what mortal nomenclature
Shall we call thee, glorious creature!

Like far-off notes, scarce heard,
Of midnight's sad sweet bird;
Like sighs, that fall on flowers,
In summer's moonlight bowers;
Like the wild-enchantment, born
Of the echo-wafting horn;
Like the lark's song, as she springs,
On her day-saluting wings;—
Sweet, oh sweet these melodies,
Fit to link us with the skies;
But which, like thine, can give
Soul-thoughts to souls that live?
Till each feels, within his breast,
'Tis the tone he loves the best;
Like a joy, that would be sad,
Like a pain, oh, almost glad,
So, through the breast and brain,
Thrills the heart-o'erladen strain,
And the vanquished soul hath known
Triumph,—rapture,—in a tone;
And the spirit, all subdued
By the chantress to her mood,
Wakes at length, with wild surprise,
From a vision of the skies;
And the soul comes lingering back
From some long-forgotten track;
And plaudits long and loud
Burst from out the busy crowd;
And the common beam, once more,
Flits along the chequered floor;—
But that pale, pale face, so bright,
And those eyes' unearthly light,
And the deep, enchanting tone,
All have been,—and all are gone!

Then sing, sweet Jenny Lind!
Like the wooing evening wind,
When it meets the chorded strings,
And the changeful music rings;
Oh, be still, as now thou art,
Sovereign mistress of the heart;
To this world of sin and pain
Thou wert never sent in vain,—
And thy mission, pure and high,
Is on record in the sky!





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