Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LA FOI, by KATHARINE ADAMS First Line: The branches of the trees are bending close above Last Line: Of the night. Subject(s): Children; Play; Childhood | ||||||||
The branches of the trees are bending Close above; They have so sheltered us all day. For we have wandered far Since dawn, Little Marcelle, Jean-Paul and I. The flames were red and gold That swept our grey roofed home; They mingled with the sweetness Of the sky. Our playhouse and our treasures All were burned away. And then we called our mother's name; Down blood strewn streets And filled lanes We called to her, Until we found that we had come To a roadway, cool and green, And with the children tugging at my hands I knew I must go on. They are so young, but I ---- I am just fifteen. We have come safely Through wood-paths of dim gold, And where the frondes of fern unfurl We gathered mists of flowers, And by a shadowed silver pool We rested for a while. Little Marcelle laughed to see Her white feet gleaming; We found ripe berries for our food And through the fragrant afternoon I knew my mother would Come after us. At twilight time we reached a road, And far away from whence we came I saw a black mass moving Against a violet sky As though an army were advancing. And the same fear that I had known At dawn in my home town Came close to me. But I looked up and saw one star -- And then I knew there was no fear. So I have brought the children To this wood, And we shall sleep here All the night; Christ has so guided us all day; Protecting trees and flowers are all around The children lie each side of me; I have unloosed my hair And its gold gleaming covers them And shines in the dim greenness; My arms are flung each side of me Upon the moss; I see a far blue star High through the tree tops -- It is the star told me Christ is near. We are all children -- Flowers and stars and trees -- It is so joyous to rest here In the shimmering silence Of the night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE HUMAN FLIES by KATHARINE ADAMS |
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