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Lanier, Sidney, 1842-1881

"Select Poems of Sidney Lanier"

)
in central Georgia.
13. Readers of `David Copperfield' will recall Micawber's
frequent use of `I-O-U-'s'.
47. "Clisby's head" refers to Mr. Joseph Clisby, then editor
of the Macon (Ga.) `Telegraph and Messenger', who had written editorials
favoring the planting of more corn.


Corn

To-day the woods are trembling through and through [1]
With shimmering forms, that flash before my view,
Then melt in green as dawn-stars melt in blue.
The leaves that wave against my cheek caress
Like women's hands; the embracing boughs express
A subtlety of mighty tenderness;
The copse-depths into little noises start,
That sound anon like beatings of a heart,
Anon like talk 'twixt lips not far apart.
The beech dreams balm, as a dreamer hums a song;
Through that vague wafture, expirations strong [11]
Throb from young hickories breathing deep and long
With stress and urgence bold of prisoned spring
And ecstasy of burgeoning.
Now, since the dew-plashed road of morn is dry,
Forth venture odors of more quality
And heavenlier giving.


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