Nilsson

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Sidney Lanier composed this poem in New York City in 1871. In the volume of complete works The Poems of Sidney Lanier, published posthumously, this poem was characterized as one his “unrevised early works.” Nilsson, the subject of the poem, is not further identified, but it is most likely that the subject was Christina Nilsson, (1843–1921), a Swedish operatic soprano. Lanier may have heard her perform in New York and subsequently composed this poem to her.

117551NilssonSidney Lanier

A rose of perfect red, embossed
With silver sheens of crystal frost,
Yet warm, nor life nor fragrance lost.

High passion throbbing in a sphere
That Art hath wrought of diamond clear,
—A great heart beating in a tear.

The listening soul is full of dreams
That shape the wondrous-varying themes
As cries of men or plash of streams.

Or noise of summer rain-drops round
That patter daintily a-ground
With hints of heaven in the sound.

Or noble wind-tones chanting free
Through morning-skies across the sea
Wild hymns to some strange majesty.

O, if one trope, clear-cut and keen,
May type the art of Song’s best queen,
White-hot of soul, white-chaste of mien,

On Music’s heart doth Nilsson dwell
As if a Swedish snow-flake fell
Into a glowing flower-bell.