Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE WINDS, by ANN RADCLIFFE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE WINDS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Viewless, though heaven's vast vault your course ye steer
Last Line: I ask the still, sweet tear, that listening fancy weeps!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ward, Ann
Subject(s): Wind


Viewless, through Heaven's vast vault your course ye steer,
Unknown from whence ye come, or whither go!
Mysterious powers! I hear you murmur low,
Till swells your loud gust on my startled ear,
And, awful, seems to say - some God is near!
I love to list your midnight voices float
In the dread storm that o'er the ocean rolls,
And, while their charm the angry wave controls,
Mix with its sullen roar, and sink remote.
Then, rising in the pause, a sweeter note,
The dirge of spirits, who your deeds bewail,
A sweeter note oft swells while sleeps the gale!
But soon, ye sightless powers! your rest is o'er,
Solemn and slow, ye rise upon the air,
Speak in the shrouds, and bid the sea-boy fear,
And the faint-warbled dirge - it heard no more!

Oh! then I deprecate your awful reign!
The loud lament yet bear not on your breath!
Bear not the crash of bark far on the main,
Bear not the cry of men, who cry in vain,
The crew's dread chorus sinking into death!
Oh! give not these, ye powers! I ask alone,
As rapt I climb these dark, romantic steeps,
The elemental war, the billow's moan;
I ask the still, sweet tear, that listening Fancy weeps!





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