The Poetry Stash: 11December2024

Echoes by Emma Lazarus

Today’s poem, “Echoes” by Emma Lazarus is in the public domain.

Echoes by Emma Lazarus

Late-born and woman-souled I dare not hope, 
The freshness of the elder lays, the might 
Of manly, modern passion shall alight 
Upon my Muse's lips, nor may I cope 
(Who veiled and screened by womanhood must grope) 
With the world's strong-armed warriors and recite 
The dangers, wounds, and triumphs of the fight; 
Twanging the full-stringed lyre through all its scope. 
But if thou ever in some lake-floored cave 
O'erbrowed by rocks, a wild voice wooed and heard, 
Answering at once from heaven and earth and wave, 
Lending elf-music to thy harshest word, 
Misprize thou not these echoes that belong 
To one in love with solitude and song.

Prompts:

1.	Begin with “Late-born and woman-souled…”
2.	Begin with “elf-music…”
3.	Draft a poem that explores boundaries set by government legislation and/or cultural “norms”.
4.	Draft a poem that explores love of the creative life.

5. Photo by Pixabay via pexels.com. Use the image as a writing prompt.

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