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Henry O'Meara Ballads of America

Decoration

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES *

GENIUS of dual flame by Nature lit,
With twin-borne lights of poesy and wit,
Whose pencilled beams in threads of thought intwine,
And clear through fourscore years of veiling shine,
The century's old - a decade sole remains -
Our autocrat in Fancy's youth still reigns;
The virile verse reveals no swerving rays -
The poise of theme no senile lapse betrays.
 
Share long the glow of lines that shall not die,
Their sparkle's living reflex in your eye -
Chastened as diamond facets, keen and pure,
Fashioned alike to glisten and endure;
Your vital lamp in iridescence burning,
Changing consummate tints with every turning-
Ever with incandescent gleam illuming,
Kindling men's souls, yet ne'er itself consuming.
 

Decoration

THE HARP OF MOORE CONTENTS A VIRGILIAN CHARADE

 

Edited and formatted by Sheldon Brown
updated Wednesday, April 19, 2000
URL: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/org/omeara/holmes.html
Copyright © 2000, 2007 Sheldon Brown