Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Sonnets from the Portuguese: IV
1Thou hast thy calling to some palace-floor,
2Most gracious singer of high poems! where
3The dancers will break footing, from the care
4Of watching up thy pregnant lips for more.
5And dost thou lift this house’s latch too poor
6For hand of thine? and canst thou think and bear
7To let thy music drop here unaware
8In folds of golden fulness at my door?
9Look up and see the casement broken in,
10The bats and owlets builders in the roof!
11My cricket chirps against thy mandolin.
12Hush, call no echo up in further proof
13Of desolation! there’s a voice within
14That weeps . . . as thou must sing . . . alone, aloof.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: A Selection from the Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. First Series. New Edition. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1886. 1: 181-202.
First publication date:
1850
RPO poem editor: Marc R. Plamondon
RP edition: 2007
Recent editing: 2:2007/11/24
Composition date:
1846
Form: sonnet
Other poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
