Martin Farquhar Tupper Poems

A book of many thoughts in mingled measures;
Songs of my Heart, attuned through many a year
From time to time a silent hour a cheer;
...

O than a beauteous mother lovelier still,
Do with my wayward verses what you will,
Let the fierce flame consume them, or the wave
...

Where shall be found the niche unfill'd,-
A spot unclaim'd, a field untill'd?
Who may secure a vacant space
Fairly to run and win the race?
...

Thou lover of the blaze of Mars,
Come out with me to-night,
For I have found among the stars
A name of nobler light.
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Writer, whosoe'er thou art,
Speaker, on whatever theme,
Write and speak from heart to heart,
Truly being what you seem;
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Think not, O man, that strong Temptation's hour,
For all thy might of mind, is past to thee;
Dream not, presumptuous, that thy state is free
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Thermopylæ and Cannæ
Were glorious fields of yore,
Leonidas and Hannibal
Right famous evermore;
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Yes! welcome, right welcome -- and give me your hand,--
I like not to keep in the cold!
If new friends are true friends I can't understand
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No jingler of rhymes, and no mingler of phrases,
No tuner of times, and no pruner of daisies,
No lullaby lyrist, with nothing to say,
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Ah! Life,-- so purposeless yet steep'd in self,
I do confess thee, yea, I do condemn thee,
So pack'd with pleasure, or so plann'd for pelf,
...