Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO TWO SISTERS; A WANDERER'S FAREWELL, by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: To know, to esteem, to love, - and then to part Last Line: And shine in the eye, of all the world beside. Subject(s): Farewell; Sisters; Parting | ||||||||
To know, to esteem, to love, -- and then to part -- Makes up life's tale to many a feeling heart; Alas for some abiding-place of love, O'er which my spirit, like the mother dove, Might brood with warming wings! O fair! O kind! Sisters in blood, yet each with each intwined More close by sisterhood of heart and mind! Me disinherited in form and face By nature, and mishap of outward grace; Who, soul and body, through one guiltless fault Waste daily with the poison of sad thought, Me did you soothe, when solace hoped I none! And as on unthaw'd ice the winter sun, Though stern the frost, though brief the genial day, You bless my heart with many a cheerful ray; For gratitude suspends the heart's despair, Reflecting bright though cold your image there. Nay more! its music by some sweeter strain Makes us live o'er our happiest hours again, Hope re-appearing dim in memory's guise -- Even thus did you call up before mine eyes Two dear, dear Sisters, prized all price above, Sisters, like you, with more than sisters' love; So like you they, and so in you were seen Their relative statures, tempers, looks, and mien, That oft, dear ladies! you have been to me At once a vision and reality. Sight seem'd a sort of memory, and amaze Mingled a trouble with affection's gaze. Oft to my eager soul I whisper blame, A Stranger bid it feel the Stranger's shame -- My eager soul, impatient of the name, No strangeness owns, no Stranger's form descries: The chidden heart spreads trembling on the eyes. First-seen I gazed, as I would look you thro'! My best-beloved regain'd their youth in you, -- And still I ask, though now familiar grown, Are you for their sakes dear, or for your own? O doubly dear! may Quiet with you dwell! In Grief I love you, yet I love you well! Hope long is dead to me! an orphan's tear Love wept despairing o'er his nurse's bier. Yet she flutters o'er her grave's green slope: For Love's despair is but the ghost of Hope! Sweet Sisters! were you placed around one hearth With those, your other selves in shape and worth, Far rather would I sit in solitude, Fond recollections all my fond heart's food, And dream of you, sweet Sisters! (ah! not mine!) And only dream of you (ah! dream and pine!) Than boast the presence and partake the pride, And shine in the eye, of all the world beside. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN STUDY #2 FOR B.B.L. by JUNE JORDAN WATCHING THE NEEDLEBOATS AT SAN SABBA by JAMES JOYCE SESTINA: TRAVEL NOTES by WELDON KEES A CHILD'S EVENING PRAYER by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A DAY DREAM by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A THOUGHT SUGGESTED BY A VIEW, OF SADDLEBACK IN CUMBERLAND by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |
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