Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SONG OF THE SHADOWS, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SONG OF THE SHADOWS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweep thy faint strings, musician
Last Line: Home once more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter


Sweep thy faint strings, Musician,
With thy long lean hand;
Downward the starry tapers burn,
Sinks soft the waning sand;
The old hound whimpers couched in sleep,
The embers smoulder low;
Across the walls the shadows
Come, and go.

Sweep softly thy strings, Musician,
The minutes mount to hours;
Frost on the windless casement weaves
A labyrinth of flowers;
Ghosts linger in the darkening air,
Hearken at the open door;
Music hath called them, dreaming,
Home once more.





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