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1874–1925

Frankincense and Myrrh

Amy Lowell

My heart is tuned to sorrow, and the strings Vibrate most readily to minor chords, Searching and sad; my mind is stuffed with words Which voice the passion and the ache of things:

Illusions beating with their baffled wings Against the walls of circumstance, and hoards Of torn desires, broken joys; records Of all a bruised life's maimed imaginings.

Now you are come! You tremble like a star Poised where, behind earth's rim, the sun has set. Your voice has sung across my heart, but numb And mute, I have no tones to answer. Far

Within I kneel before you, speechless yet, And life ablaze with beauty, I am dumb.

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Frankincense and Myrrh · Amy Lowell · Poetry Cove