How sweet the tuneful bells' responsive peal!
As when, at opening morn, the fragrant breeze
Breathes on the trembling sense of wan disease,
So piercing to my heart their force I feel!
And hark! with lessening cadence now they fall,
And now, along the white and level tide,
They fling their melancholy music wide,
Bidding me many a tender thought recall
Of summer-days, and those delightful years
When by my native streams, in life's fair prime,
The mournful magic of their mingling chime
First waked my wond'ring childhood into tears;— 
But seeming now, when all those days are o'er,
The sounds of joy, once heard, and heard no more.

Added: Feb 21 2003 | Viewed: 409 times | Comments (0)

Poet: William Lisle Bowles
Poem: Sonnet: At Ostend, July 22nd 1787

Year: Published/Written in 1810
There are no comments for this poem. Why not be the first one to post something about it?

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Sonnet: At Ostend, July 22nd 1787, has not yet been commented on. You can click here to be the first to post a comment about it. Of course you can also always discuss poems by William Lisle Bowles with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!