Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CASTLE OF BONCOURT, by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO Poet's Biography First Line: Dream of the days of my childhood Last Line: And sing from land to land. | ||||||||
IDREAM of the days of my childhood, And shake my silvery head. How haunt ye my brain, O visions, Methought ye forgotten and dead! From the shades of the forest uprises A castle so lofty and great; Well know I the battlements, towers, The arching stone-bridge, and the gate. The lions look down from the scutcheon On me with familiar face; I greet the old friends of my boyhood, And speed through the courtyard space. There lies the Sphinx by the fountain; The fig-tree's foliage gleams; 'Twas there, behind yon windows, I dreamt the first of my dreams. I tread the aisle of the chapel, And search for my fathers' graves Behold them! And there from the pillars Hang down the old armor and glaives. Not yet can I read the inscription; A veil hath enveloped my sight, What though through the painted windows Glows brightly the sunbeam's light. Thus gleams, O hall of my fathers, Thy image so bright in my mind, From the earth now vanished, the ploughshare Leaves of thee no vestige behind. Be fruitful, lov'd soil, I will bless thee, While anguish o'er-cloudeth my brow; Threefold will I bless him, whoever May guide o'er thy bosom the plough. But I will up, up, and be doing; My lyre I'll take in my hand; O'er the wide, wide earth will I wander, And sing from land to land. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRUCIFIX by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO THE LION'S BRIDE by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO THE OLD SINGER by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO THE OLD WASHERWOMAN by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO THE TOY OF THE GIANT'S CHILD by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO THE WOMEN OF WEINSBERG by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO WOMAN'S LOVE AND LIFE by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO WOMAN'S LOVE AND LIFE, SELECTION by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO WOMAN'S LOVE AND LIFE, SELECTION by ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO |
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