| Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867. | | | | V. To Mrs. Sigourney | | By James Dixon (1814–1873) |
| | | | With a “Forget-me-not” from the grave of KEATS, on whose tombstone are inscribed these words:— |
| “HERE LIES ONE WHOSE NAME WAS WRIT IN WATER.” |
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WANDERING in Rome, for thee a gift I sought: | |
| Around me were the wonders of the past; | |
| And modern Art, on every side, had cast | |
| Her gems of richest beauty. Yet methought | |
| These were scarce worthy thee. At length I stood, | 5 |
| One Sabbath eve, beside the grave of KEATS; | |
| The turf was bright with flowers that gave their sweets | |
| To the soft night-air, as in mournful mood: | |
| Sad thoughts came o’er me, and I could have wept | |
| That all the hopes that in the Poet’s heart, | 10 |
| As in a sanctuary, had been kept, | |
| Could fade so soon, and perish, and depart; | |
| I plucked this flower for thee, the Muses’ happiest daughter, | |
| And joyed to think thy name should ne’er be “writ in water.” | | | |
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