Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LYNTON VERSES: 6. SYMPHONY, by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN Poet's Biography First Line: We saw her die, and she is dead Last Line: Dove, blackbird, goldfinch, larch! Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, T. E. Subject(s): Birds; Death - Children; Jesus Christ; Sisters; Spring; Death - Babies | ||||||||
Adagio. We saw her die, and she is dead -- Our little sister -- A March wind came and kissed her, And sighed and fled -- Beyond the hill, Far in the East we hear him sighing still. But she is dead, Our little sister's dead! Ah, chill! chill! chill! Ah, see the drooping head! Our sister's dead -- We know that she is dead. Andante con moto. Talitha cumi! O Thou Christ, Hast kept the tryst? Laugh not, O maidens! this is He Of Galilee, Of Nazareth, The Christ that conquers Death -- Dost catch a breath, O Christ? O, Life! Talitha cumi! See The tumult as of some sweet strife Strained tremulous up; up -- "Give her to drink!" He saith -- Yea, Lord, behold, a cup! Scherzo. O gentle airs of Spring, Come to the hills and the valleys, From the South, from the West, As seems you best, Rocked in your golden galleys! Bring the bread, bring the wine, Bring the smell that's fine, Bring the scarf and the bright green wimple! See, she dips! see, she sips! put your oozy lips To the curve of each nascent dimple -- To her head, to her feet So warm and sweet Bring the rain and the sunshine after; To the ordered limbs Where the new life swims, To the kneaded mesh Of the soft pink flesh, Bring baths of dew, Bring skies of blue -- Bring love, and light, and laughter! Trio. Goldfinch underneath the bough Clinging, swinging, You are happy now. Blackbird, as you flit along, Staying, swaying, Sing her but one song! Dove, when twilight wakes unrest, Yearning, burning, Lean to her your breast! Finale. O God of Heaven! These are Thy gifts, to all Thy creatures given -- Love, laughter, light -- Stablish the ancient right, O God; and bend above them all Thy brooding arch -- Dove, blackbird, goldfinch, larch! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOST CHILDREN by RANDALL JARRELL THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN MELANCHOLY; AN ODE by WILLIAM BROOME SISTERS IN ARMS by AUDRE LORDE A BOTANICAL TROPE by WILLIAM MEREDITH FOR MOHAMMED ZEID OF GAZA, AGE 15 by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE A SERMON AT CLEVEDON; GOOD FRIDAY by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN |
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