To Shakespeare by Frances Anne Kemble

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend June 29, 2014   To Shakespeare   Frances Anne Kemble

Oft, when my lips I open to rehearse Thy wondrous spell of wisdom, and of power, And that my voice, and thy immortal verse, On listening ears, and hearts, I mingled pour, I shrink dismayed – and awful doth appear The vain presumption of my own weak deed; Thy glorious spirit seems to mine so near, That suddenly I tremble as I read – Thee an invisible auditor I fear: Oh, if it might be so, my master dear! With what beseeching would I pray to thee, To make me equal to my noble task, Succor from thee, how humbly would I ask, Thy worthiest works to utter worthily.            This poem is in the public domain. About This Poem   “To Shakespeare” by Frances Anne Kemble was published in The Book of the Sonnet (1867).   Frances Anne Kemble was born on November 27, 1809. A successful actress from a notable theater family, Kemble was also a popular writer, who published memoirs, plays, and poetry. She lived and worked in the United States and England. Work by Kemble   Records of Later Life (Echo Library, 2010) “On Shakespeare” by John Milton “Sentimental Education” by Mary Ruefle “My Love Sent Me a List” by Olena Kalytiak Davis Poem-a-Day   Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day features new and previously unpublished poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038