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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
RENUNCIANTS, by EDWARD DOWDEN Poet's Biography First Line: Seems not our breathing light? Last Line: The sackcloth next the skin. | |||
SEEMS not our breathing light? Sound not our voices free? Bid to Life's festal bright No gladder guests there be. Ah stranger, lay aside Cold prudence! I divine The secret you would hide, And you conjecture mine. You too have temperate eyes, Have put your heart to school, Are prov'd. I recognize A brother of the rule. I knew it by your lip, A something when you smil'd, Which meant "close scholarship, A master of the guild." Well, and how good is life; Good to be born, have breath, The calms good, and the strife, Good life, and perfect death. Come, for the dancers wheel, Join we the pleasant din, -- Comrade, it serves to feel The sackcloth next the skin. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
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