INSPIRATION, POEMS ABOUT INSPIRATION

                           SHALL EARTH NO MORE INSPIRE THEE

Shall earth no more inspire thee,
     
Thou lonely dreamer, now?

Since passion may not fire thee,
     
Shall nature cease to bow?

Thy mind is ever moving
     
In regions dark to thee;

Recall its useless roving;
     
Come back, and dwell with me.

I know my mountain-breezes
     
Enchant and soothe thee still,

I know my sunshine pleases,
     
Despite thy wayward will.

When day with evening blending,
     
Sinks from the summer sky,

I've seen thy spirit bending
     
In fond idolatry.

I've watched thee every hour;
     
I know my mighty sway:

I know my magic power
     
To drive thy griefs away.

Few hearts to mortals given,
     
On earth so wildly pine;

Yet few would ask a heaven
     
More like this earth than thine.

Then let my winds caress thee;
     
Thy comrade let me be:

Since nought beside can bless thee,
     
Return---
               and dwell with me.


                Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë (1818 – 1848)

WILL YOU AS WELL FORSAKE ME*

Will you as well forsake me,
Oh oldest of companions,
If your muses should escape me
In my mind’s engulfing canyons?

Though this mind, it tends to wander
And my spirit yearns to roam,
Do not fear if I should ponder.
I’ll ne’er forget my one true home.

If from now my course should alter,
I’ll return to find thee still
In the comfort of a dawning day
And dwell with you, I will.

I know your mountain breeze
And the power in his hold,
But know not he alone can ease
The pain of a heart grown cold.

If my back I’ve turned upon thee,
Have faith and teach me still.
My lesson: let it sunshine be,
And dwell with you, I will.

How well it is you know me,
How keen your watching eye,
To know my grief alone escapes,
Beneath your sunset sky.

Do not fear if I should falter,
Or turn from you in grief.
If heaven’s gardener were I were,
I would not stir a single leaf.

Though death will be my final fate,
If I’ve not found thee still,
Let heaven be your garden’s gate
And dwell with you, I will. 


RUSSELL WAGONER
©RUSSELL WAGONER 2013 
*This poem was written by Russell Wagoner as a response to Emily Brontë's poem Shall Earth No More Ispire Thee.

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