Felicia Hemans in The Literary Gazette 1821/Impromptu on 'To the Ivy'

by John Fitzadam

The Literary Gazette, 30th June 1821

BY CORRESPONDENT.

IMPROMPTU, ON MRS. HEMAN'S BEAUTIFUL POEM
"TO THE IVY."
(By J. Fitzadam.)

Sad Ivy! pall of glory past!
    To desolation vowed so long,
Thou 'rt called to lovelier life at last
    By the soft spell of Heman's song.

Such life as Inspiration's fire
    Kindles through nature unconfin'd,—
Creative breathings of the lyre—
    The immortality of mind.

What, though, of old, the chosen screen
    Of Bacchus' temples twin'd to be,
Yet all unlov'd such wassail scene,
    Ill suited, lonely plant! to thee.

Still true to grief and solitude,
    Thy faith hath won the guerdon high,
Which Genius, in her holy mood,
    Now pours around thee, ne'er to die.

Nor may that leaf old honours rue,
     Transplanted e'en from brows divine,
When thus, sweet poetess! anew
    It blooms, for ever fresh, on thine!