English poem
Not Love, Not War, Nor The Tumultuous Swell
Composed 1823.--Published 1827
One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.
Not Love, not War, nor the tumultuous swell Of civil conflict, nor the wrecks of change, Nor Duty struggling with afflictions strange-- Not these alone inspire the tuneful shell; But where untroubled peace and concord dwell, There also is the Muse not loth to range, Watching the twilight smoke of cot or grange, Skyward ascending from a woody dell. Meek aspirations please her, lone endeavour, And sage content, and placid melancholy; She loves to gaze upon a crystal river-- Diaphanous because it travels slowly; Soft is the music that would charm for ever; The flower of sweetest smell is shy and lowly.
More by William Wordsworth
- No Record Tells Of Lance Opposed To Lance
- Not Envying Latian Shades--If Yet They Throw
- Not Hurled Precipitous From Steep To Steep
- Not In The Lucid Intervals Of Life
- Not Seldom, Clad In Radiant Vest
- Not Without Heavy Grief Of Heart Did He
- Nuns Fret Not At Their Convent'S Narrow Room
- O Flower Of All That Springs From Gentle Blood