English poem
Sonnet LI (ON this lone island, whose unfruitful…)
by Charlotte Smith (1749–1806)
ON this lone island, whose unfruitful breast Feeds but the Summer-shepherd's little flock With scanty herbage from the half-clothed rock, Where osprays, cormorants, and sea-mews rest; Even in a scene so desolate and rude I could with thee for months and years be blest; And of thy tenderness and love possest, Find all my world in this wild solitude! When summer suns these northern seas illume, With thee admire the light's reflected charms, And when drear Winter spreads his cheerless gloom, Still find Elysium in thy shelt'ring arms: For thou to me canst sovereign bliss impart, Thy mind my empire—and my throne thy heart.
More by Charlotte Smith
- Sonnet III (POOR melancholy bird—that all night long…)
- Sonnet IV (QUEEN of the silver bow!—by thy…)
- Sonnet IX (BLEST is yon shepherd, on the…)
- Sonnet L (FAREWEL, ye lawns!—by fond remembrance blest…)
- Sonnet LII (FALTERING and sad the unhappy Pilgrim…)
- Sonnet LIII (THE shivering native, who by Tenglio's…)
- Sonnet LIV (YE copses wild, where April bids…)
- Sonnet LIX (WHAT awful pageants crowd the evening…)