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L'Inconnue

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

Topics: classic

Is thy name Mary, maiden fair?     Such should, methinks, its music be;     The sweetest name that mortals bear     Were best befitting thee;     And she to whom it once was given,     Was half of earth and half of heaven.     I hear thy voice, I see thy smile,     I look upon thy folded hair;     Ah! while we dream not they beguile,     Our hearts are in the snare;     And she who chains a wild bird's wing     Must start not if her captive sing.     So, lady, take the leaf that falls,     To all but thee unseen, unknown;     When evening shades thy silent walls,     Then read it all alone;     In stillness read, in darkness seal,     Forget, despise, but not reveal!

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"Is thy name Mary, maiden fair?..."

This evocative piece by Oliver Wendell Holmes, titled "L'Inconnue", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Is thy name Mary, maiden fair?..." by Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Oliver Wendell Holmes

About Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809–1894) was an American poet, physician, and essayist. His poems "Old Ironsides" and "The Chambered Nautilus" are American classics. He was part of the Fireside Poets group.

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