Poem-a-Day - "Sonnet XLIV" by Charlotte Smith

Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets each year, and share this series with 300,000 readers every day.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
October 23, 2021 

Sonnet XLIV

Charlotte Smith
written in the churchyard at Middleton in Sussex

Press’d by the Moon, mute arbitress of tides,
    While the loud equinox its pow’r combines,
    The sea no more its swelling surge confines,
But o’er the shrinking land sublimely rides.
The wild blasts, rising from the Western cave,
    Drives the huge billows from their heaving bed;
    Tears from their grassy tombs the village dead,
And breaks the silent sabbath of the grave!
With shells and seaweed mingled, on the shore,
    Lo! their bones whiten in the frequent wave;
    But vain to them the winds and waters rave;
They hear the warring elements no more:
While I am doom’d—by life’s long storm opprest,
To gaze with envy, on their gloomy rest.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on October 23, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“Sonnet XLIV” was published in Elegiac Sonnets, 5th ed. (Thomas Cadell, 1789).

Charlotte Turner Smith was an English poet, novelist, and writer. She authored many books, including Elegiac Sonnets (Thomas Cadell, 1784), The Emigrants (Thomas Cadell, 1793), and Desmond (Thomas Cadell, 1792). She died on October 28, 1806.

Elegiac Sonnets
(Thomas Cadell, 1789)



“Self-Portrait with Weeping Woman” by Deborah Paredez
read more
"Hearing your words and not a word among them (Sonnet XXXVI)” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
read more
Thanks to Safiya Sinclair, author of Cannibal (University of Nebraska Press, 2016), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Listen to a Q&A about Sinclair’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year
This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work. 
Become a monthly sustainer
join
Make a one-time gift
donate
From Our Advertisers
Copyright © 2021 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
St #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Older messages

2021 Featured Fall Books from our Partners, Sponsors, & Advertisers

Friday, October 22, 2021

New poetry books from our partners, sponsors & advertisers View this email in your browser 2021 Featured Fall Books Check out these poetry titles from our partners, sponsors, and advertisers.

"Breaking [News]" by Noor Hindi

Friday, October 22, 2021

I'm not a poet anymore— / I've interviewed too many politicians. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day October 22, 2021 Breaking [News] Noor Hindi I'm not a poet anymore— I've

"One Summer" by Ann-Margaret Lim

Thursday, October 21, 2021

In the dream, Stephen / you're thicker than when we were young Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day October 21, 2021 One Summer Ann-Margaret Lim On April 22, 1993, 18-year-old 2nd

"Dear Birmingham" by Gabrielle Bates

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

I've been visiting again / the cemetery Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day October 20, 2021 Dear Birmingham Gabrielle Bates I've been visiting again the cemetery with a sunken

Full Moon Poems, Poetry & Labor, National Student Poets Ceremony, and more

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Support Poets.org October 19, 2021 Poems for the Full Moon Spend some time reflecting on this week's full moon with these poems from Poets.org: “City Moon” by Francisco Aragón “i love you to the

You Might Also Like

60+ Best Black Friday Tech Deals That Are Already Live

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Microsoft Is Denying That Office 365 Trains Its AI. From tablets to video games, here are some of my favorite Black Friday deals so far. Not displaying correctly? View this newsletter online.

Final check: Are you still reading Dense Discovery?

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Dense Discovery Dense Discovery Are you still reading Dense Discovery? My subscriber data tells me that emails sent to newsletterest1@gmail.com were not opened in the last ~90 days. This data can be

Need To Let It All Out? Try A "Rage Room"

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Plus, the ultimate holiday shopping gift guide, your daily horoscope, and more. Nov. 28, 2024 Bustle Daily Bustle's Most Wanted awards: Holiday. HOLIDAYS Your Comprehensive Holiday Shopping Guide

Lithub Mailing List: Update Profile

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Lit Hub Daily subscription We received a request to change your subscription preferences for Lithub Mailing List. If you made this request, and would like to change your preferences, use the link below

Simplicity

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

The Burds Are Back in Town, and It's Bristol

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Tozer Signs hosts the third Burds of the Brush meet with a Halloween theme in Bristol, UK. BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture bl.ag online weekly (all members)

Muscle/Break

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Taking a break, taking five minutes, taking melatonin, your recommendations. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

"We give because giving has changed us."

Thursday, November 28, 2024

November 28, 2024 from our archive The Miracle of Giving DA Powell Twice Christ took the bread apart with his human hands that he used for such tasks, once with fish and once with wine, the grain a

Jeff Bezos wants AI to design your Thanksgiving turkey

Thursday, November 28, 2024

The Amazon billionaire is spending $100 million to design the perfect fake meat. Is it worth it? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

"Wooden Window Frames" by Luci Tapahonso

Thursday, November 28, 2024

The morning sun streams through the little kitchen's / wooden panes Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day November 28, 2024 Wooden Window Frames Luci Tapahonso The morning sun streams