Poem Lake | Page 2 | The Greatest Poems of All Time

The Sleeping Beauty From “The Day Dream” YEAR after year unto her feet, She lying on her couch alone, Across the purple coverlet, The maiden’s jet-black hair has grown; On either side her trancèd form Forth streaming from a braid of pearl; The slumberous... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	“Tears, idle tears” From “The Princess” TEARS, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Tears from the depth of some divine despair Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes, In looking on the happy autumn fields, And thinking of the days that are no more. Fresh as... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	The May Queen You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; To-morrow ’ll be the happiest time of all the glad new-year,— Of all the glad new-year, mother, the maddest, merriest day; For I ’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I ’m to be Queen o’ the May. There ’s... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	“Oh that ’t were possible” From “Maud” OH that ’t were possible, After long grief and pain, To find the arms of my true love Round me once again! When I was wont to meet her In the silent woody places Of the land that gave me birth, We stood tranced... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“Home they brought her warrior dead” From “The Princess” HOME they brought her warrior dead: She nor swooned, nor uttered cry; All her maidens, watching, said, “She must weep or she will die.” Then they praised him, soft and low, Called him worthy to be loved, Truest... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	Selections from “In Memoriam” [Arthur Henry Hallam, Ob. 1833] Grief Unspeakable V. I SOMETIMES hold it half a sin To put in words the grief I feel: For words, like Nature, half reveal And half conceal the Soul within. But, for the unquiet heart and brain, A... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	“Break, break, break” Break, break, break, On thy cold gray stones, O sea! And I would that my tongue could utter The thoughts that arise in me. O well for the fisherman’s boy That he shouts with his sister at play! O well for the sailor lad That he... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	“Strong Son of God, immortal Love” From “In Memoriam”: Introduction STRONG Son of God, immortal Love, Whom we, that have not seen thy face, By faith, and faith alone, embrace, Believing where we cannot prove; Thine are these orbs of light and shade; Thou madest Life in man... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Doubt and Faith From “In Memoriam,” XCV. YOU say, but with no touch of scorn, Sweet-hearted, you, whose light-blue eyes Are tender over drowning flies, You tell me, doubt is Devil-born. I know not: one indeed I knew In many a subtle question versed,... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	Sir Galahad My good blade carves the casques of men, My tough lance thrusteth sure, My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure. The shattering trumpet shrilleth high, The hard brands shiver on the steel, The splintered spear-shafts... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson