Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NOTWITHSTANDING, by JAMES BUCKHAM First Line: Brief are the days and few Last Line: Notwithstanding. Alternate Author Name(s): Pastnor, Paul Subject(s): Transience; Love; Impermanence | ||||||||
Brief are the days and few When the sky is utter blue, And the wind goes over the grass Like the laugh of a Maying lass; But our God is good to all, And some perfect days befall, Notwithstanding. Love is a strange sweet thing, Like the plume of an angel's wing, Too white and good and fair To be long in this soiling air; But who has not known the bliss, Sometimes and somewhere, of a kiss, Notwithstanding. We do what we can and trust, But our doing turns to dust; And the night flows over the day And washes its deeds away: But whatso we truly try The world will not let it die, Notwithstanding. Then courage my brothers brave, And the precious remnant save! Our hopes are like lamps afire, Set high, to lead us higher: No man has yet lived his dream, But we climb by things that seem, Notwithstanding. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FROM THE SPANISH by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 17 by JAMES JOYCE SOUTHERN GOTHIC by DONALD JUSTICE THE BEACH IN AUGUST by WELDON KEES THE MAN SPLITTING WOOD IN THE DAYBREAK by GALWAY KINNELL THE SEEKONK WOODS by GALWAY KINNELL |
|