Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NEVERMORE, by PAUL VERLAINE



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NEVERMORE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Memory, what wilt thou with me? Autumn gales
Last Line: "the first-heard ""yes"" from the belovéd lips."
Subject(s): Evening; Memory


MEMORY, what wilt thou with me? Autumn gales
Baffle the bird's flight through the moaning air;
The sun hurls wide his steady beams that stare
O'er the sere wood wherethro' the north wind wails.
We two alone, and both with dreams astray,
With locks afloat in air and thoughts adrift,
When suddenly to me her eyes uplift
And her voice asks, "When wast thou happiest? Say,"

As soft and song-like as when angels chaunt,
And my wan smile gives answer, else untold,
And my weaned mouth along her white hand sips.
No flowers have scent like that the first ones hold,
No sounds have such sweet stress as those that haunt
The first-heard "Yes" from the belovéd lips.





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