Limitations by Henrietta Cordelia Ray

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend January 9, 2016   Limitations   Henrietta Cordelia Ray

The subtlest strain a great musician weaves, Cannot attain in rhythmic harmony To music in his soul. May it not be Celestial lyres send hints to him? He grieves That half the sweetness of the song, he leaves Unheard in the transition. Thus do we Yearn to translate the wondrous majesty Of some rare mood, when the rapt soul receives A vision exquisite. Yet who can match The sunset’s iridescent hues? Who sing The skylark’s ecstasy so seraph-fine? We struggle vainly, still we fain would catch Such rifts amid life’s shadows, for they bring Glimpses ineffable of things divine.            This poem is in the public domain. About This Poem   “Limitations” was published in Ray’s book Poems (The Grafton Press, 1910).   Henrietta Cordelia Ray was born in New York City in 1849. Her books include Sonnets (J. J. Little & Co., 1893) and Poems (The Grafton Press, 1910). In 1876 her poem “Lincoln” was read at the unveiling of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington D.C. Ray died in 1917. Poetry by Ray   Sonnets (Forgotten Books, 2015) "With Music" by Helen Hay Whitney "Fragment" by Amy Lowell "LXV [Once, I knew a fine song]" by Stephen Crane Poem-a-Day   Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day features new and previously unpublished poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends.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