Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE COMMON LOT, by JAMES MONTGOMERY Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Once, in the flight of ages past Last Line: Than this, -- there lived a man! Alternate Author Name(s): The Common Lot Subject(s): Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
ONCE in the flight of ages past, There lived a Man: -- and WHO WAS HE? -- Mortal! howe'er thy lot be cast, That Man resembled thee. Unknown the region of his birth, The land in which he died unknown: His name has perish'd from the earth, This truth survives alone: -- That joy and grief, and hope and fear, Alternate triumph'd in his breast: His bliss and wo, -- a smile, a tear! -- Oblivion hides the rest. The bounding pulse, the languid limb -- The changing spirits' rise and fall; We know that these were felt by him For these are felt by all. He suffer'd, -- but his pangs are o'er; Enjoy'd, -- but his delights are fled; Had friends, -- his friends are now no more; And foes, -- his foes are dead. He loved, -- but whom he loved, the grave Hath lost in its unconscious womb, Oh she was fair -- but naught could save Her beauty from the tomb. He saw whatever thou hast seen; Encounter'd all that troubles thee; He was -- whatever thou hast been; He is -- what thou shalt be. The rolling seasons, day and night, Sun, moon, and stars, the earth and main, Erewhile his portion, life and light To him exist in vain. The clouds and sunbeams, o'er his eye That once their shades and glory threw, Have left in yonder silent sky No vestige where they flew. The annals of the human race, Their ruins, since the world began Of HIM afford no other trace Than this, -- THERE LIVED A MAN! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A MOTHER'S LOVE by JAMES MONTGOMERY |
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