ages

AH SUNFLOWER
By William Blake
1757-1827
Ah, sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking afterest that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done.

Where the youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves and aspire
Where my sunflower wishes to go!

A THOUGHT WENT UP MY MIND TODAY.
By Emily Dickinson
1830-1886

A thought went up my mind to-day
That I have had before,
But I did not finish---some way back,
I could not fix the year.

Nor where it went nor why it came,
The second time to me,
Nor definitely what it was,
Have I the art to say.

But somewhere in my soul, I know
I've met the thing before;
It just reminded me--t'was all--
And came my way no more.

DREAM-PEDLARY {EXCERPT}
by: Thomas Lovell beddoes
1803-1818

If there were dreams to sell,
What would you buy?
Some cost a passing bell;
Some a light sigh,
That shakes from life's fresh crown
Only a rose-leaf down.
If there were dreams to sell,
Merry and sad to tell,
And the crier rang the bell
What would you buy?

A cottage lone and still,
With bowers nigh,
Shadowy, my woes to still,
Until I die.
Such pearl from life's fresh crown
Fain would I shake me down.
Were dreams to have at will,
This would best heal my will,
This would I buy.

MY SOUL IS DARK
By: George Gordon, Lord Byron
1788-1824

My soul is dark-Oh! Quickly string
The harp I yet can brook to hear;
And let thy gentle fingers fling
Its' melting murmurs o'er mine ear.
If in this heart a hope be dear,
That sound shall charm it forth again:
If in these eyes there lurk a tear,
'T'will flow, and cease to burn my brain.

But I bid the strain be wild and deep,
Nor let thy notes of joy be first:
I tell thee, minstrel, I must weep,
Or else this heavy heart will burst:
For it hath been by sorrow nursed,
And ached in sleepless silence, long;
And now 'tis doomed to know the worst;
And break at once-or yield to song.