| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | The Violin | | By Warren Holden (1817–1903) |
| | | THE HEART’S Own Voice, sweet viol, by thy name, | |
| Whose throbbing chords are tuned to every tone | |
| Of passion’s scale to human bosom known. | |
| Dost thou discourse of love? The lover’s frame | |
| Responsive trembles and reveals the flame. | 5 |
| Is grief thy theme? What sympathy is shown | |
| On every face! Mayhap there bursts a moan. | |
| Thy gentle chiding wakens conscious blame. | |
| Spontaneous pleasure leads the nimble dance | |
| Where’er thy wizard wand a challenge flings, | 10 |
| ’Neath stately roof or green-wood tree perchance. | |
| And when repentance wavers o’er the strings | |
| Their pleading prayers the contrite heart entrance, | |
| And waft it heavenward as on angel wings. | | | | |
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