--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Alfred Lambourne collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 5 number: 10 published: 1902-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Alfred Lambourne, "Three Sonnets," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 10 (August 1902): 768–769.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0510unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0510unse start_page: 768 end_page: 769 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0510unse publication_year: 1902 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Three Sonnets — THREE SONNETS. BY ALFRED LAMBOURNE. I. LONGFELLOW'S TOMB. Serene, the marble stands where bright the glade Ends at the thick grove's edge; and one tall tree Leans, with a stately grace and limbs all free, To throw upon the resting place a shade. And in a dell, beneath the oaks arcade, We the pale gleam of stilly waters see; And by the tomb, of all our thoughts the key, The fleur-de-lis in order sweet arrayed. How like is this unto the poet's lays! How like the thoughts within that deep soil grown — 'The poet's heart that joy and sorrow weighs How like his life as through the muses shown! — .AH tranquil bright, and golden, halcyon days Made solemn by death's changeless undertone. II. THE MYSTERY OF MATTER. I matter love for that which breathes it through, The palpable to sense of touch and sight. Filled with a beauty of the power of light, Substance made token by its form and hue. I matter fear for that which power it drew, The deadly hates that at love's being smite. The subtle poison that the pure can blight, 0, rivals meeting on life's avenue! — THREE SONNETS. 769 This blameless soil opposing force will sow, The butterfly and serpent share this clod, Roses and lilies, tares and thistles grow, Evil and good emerge from this dull sod; Therein we may the Prince of Darkness know. And who dares limit how we shall see God! III. A BEETHOVEN SONATA. Life and its passions through these charmed notes run. Of human change the ever-shifting scale, Love rapture-flushed, and melancholy, pale, Romance and fantasies therein are spun The tread of dancer's neath the watchful sun; Dull tones like sombre crape our ears assail, The muffled drum, the clarionet's shrill wail. And changeless nature when life's dream is done. Of sorrow's cup, he the dregs did taste. Who heard afar these harmonies that wake; Upon his love and hope, fate put the ban; His wine of life, disparagement did waste; In silence wrought he, felt his own heart break. To stir the deeps within the soul of man.