Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SHADOW (2), by ALICE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SHADOW (2), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: One summer night
Last Line: Dear lord, be praised.
Subject(s): God


ONE summer night,
The full moon, 'tired in her golden cloak,
Did beckon me, I thought; and I awoke,
And saw a light,

Most soft and fair,
Shine in the brook, as if, in love's distress,
The parting sun had shear'd a dazzling tress.
And left it there.

Toward the sweet banks
Of the bright stream straightly I bent my way;
And in my heart good thoughts the while did stay,
Giving God thanks.

The wheat-stocks stood
Along the field like little fairy men,
And mists stole, white and bashful, through the glen,
As maidens would.

In rich content
My soul was growing toward immortal height,
When, lo! I saw that by me, through the light,
A shadow went.

I stopped, afraid:
It was the bad sign of some evil done:
That stopping, too, right swiftly did I run;
So did the shade.

At length I drew
Close to the bank of the delightful brook,
And sitting in the moonshine, turn'd to look;
It sat there too.

Ere long I spied
A weed with goodly flowers upon its top;
And when I saw that such sweet things did drop
Black shadows, cried, --

Lo! I have found,
Hid in this ugly riddle, a good sign;
My life is twofold, earthly and divine, --
Buried and crown'd.

Sown darkly; raised
Light within light, when death from mortal soil
Undresses me, and makes me spiritual; --
Dear Lord, be praised.





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