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THE COLLECTED POEMS OF HENRIK IBSEN Translated by John ...

THE COLLECTED POEMS OF HENRIK IBSEN Translated by John ...

THE COLLECTED POEMS OF HENRIK IBSEN Translated by John ...

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244<br />

degenerated into chaotic violence; hymn-book of two and fifty pages, a deck of cards for<br />

gambling.<br />

IN A YOUNG COMPOSER’S ALBUM<br />

Orpheus struck with purest treble<br />

soul from beast and fire from pebble.<br />

Stones our Norway has no lack of;<br />

wild beasts too, we’ve many a pack of.<br />

Play, that stones may spark in wonder!<br />

Play, that hides may burst asunder!<br />

Written in Edward Greig’s album February 1866.<br />

Written 1868-9.<br />

AN ALBUM-POEM<br />

Joy’s harbinger, my name for you;<br />

The star of my existence.<br />

And truth to God, `twas such you grew,<br />

Joy’s harbinger that came — withdrew; —<br />

A star — yes, shooting-star, it’s true,<br />

That died out in the distance.<br />

IN <strong>THE</strong> GALLERY<br />

A lovely creature<br />

sits there and graces<br />

in easel-reach the<br />

gallery’s spaces.<br />

What pure Castalia<br />

works there upon her? —<br />

She copies daily the<br />

Murillo Madonna.<br />

Her rapt, astigmatical<br />

eye speaks mutely:<br />

she builds ecstatical<br />

realms of beauty.

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