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She Scanned The Record Of Beethoven’s Thought

Thomas Runciman

She scanned the record of Beethoven’s thought,
And made the dumb chords speak both clear and low,
And spread the dead man’s voice till I was caught
Away, and now seemed long and long ago.
Methought in Tellus’ bosom still I lay,
While centuries like steeds tramped overhead,
To the wild rhythms that, by night and day,
From nature and man’s passions still are made.
The music of their motion as they pranced
Lulled me to flawless ease as of a God;
Never upon me pain or pleasure chanced;
Unknown the dew of bliss, or fate’s hard rod.
Thus dreamed I … But I know our mother Earth
Waits to give back the peace she reft at birth.
Online text © 1998-2009 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From Songs, Sonnets & Miscellaneous Poems | Privately Printed, 1922
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