Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NEVER TOO LATE: AN ODE, by ROBERT GREENE Poet's Biography First Line: Down the valley gan he track Last Line: Weeds and sorrow were for love. Variant Title(s): Palmer's Ode;the Palmer Subject(s): Grief; Love; Sorrow; Sadness | ||||||||
DOWN the valley gan he track, Bag and bottle at his back, In a surcoat all of grey; Such wear palmers on the way, When with scrip and staff they see Jesus' grave on Calvary: A hat of straw, like a swain, Shelter for the sun and rain, With a scallop-shell before; Sandals on his feet he wore; Legs were bare, arms unclad: Such attire this palmer had. His face fair, like Titan's shine; Grey and buxom were his eyne, Whereout dropt pearls of sorrow; Such sweet tears Love doth borrow, When in outward dews he plains Heart's distress that lovers pains; Ruby lips, cherry cheeks; Such rare mixture Venus seeks, When, to keep her damsels quiet, Beauty sets them down their diet:' Adon was not thought more fair: Curled locks of amber hair, Locks where Love did sit and twine Nets to snare the gazer's eyne. Such a palmer ne'er was seen, 'Less Love himself had palmer been. Yet, for all he was so quaint, Sorrow did his visage taint: Midst the riches of his face Grief decipher'd high disgrace. Every step strain'd a tear; Sudden sighs show'd his fear; And yet his fear by his sight Ended in a strange delight; That his passions did approve Weeds and sorrow were for love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE DIRGE AT THE END OF THE WOODS by LEONIE ADAMS A FAREWELL TO FOLLY: CONTENT by ROBERT GREENE |
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