Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ALTER EGO, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ALTER EGO, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where is the boyish poet
Last Line: His face against the east.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Aging; Self


WHERE is the boyish Poet
Who used with you to write?
Alas! his songs are ended:
I dug his grave last night.

Beneath a flowering myrtle,
His face against the East,
I buried him at midnight;
Without a book or priest.

He had grown older, graver, --
The iron hand of Time
Had chilled the early laughter
That rippled in his rhyme.

He had grown graver, sadder,
Before the darkening years;
His voice, once clear and joyous,
Took evermore of tears.

What should he do but dwindle,
What should he do but go?
He could not sing the summer,
He would not sing the snow.

His lyre was carved for pleasure,
His lot was cast in pain;
Till this gray world grow brighter,
He may not rise again!

So, 'neath a flowering myrtle
Without a book or priest,
I buried him at midnight,
His face against the East.





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