Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OCTOBER THOUGHTS: 1862, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: A solemn, tender melancholy Last Line: Shall call him yet to guard her shrine. Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Death; Freedom; Nature; October; War; Dead, The; Liberty | ||||||||
A SOLEMN, tender melancholy A soft emotion, sweet and holy; A sense of stillness and repose. O'er my worn heart and spirit flows. I feel the breathing calm that lies On earth, and sea, and sleeping skies, Upon the yellow, voiceless woods, Where fading Nature mournful broods; The stubble field, brown, silent, bare Not even a gleaner wandering there, I seem by the death-couch to stand Of some grey Father of the land, Whose fading hue and failing breath, And voiceless lips, give sign of death. And hark! 'mid twilight shadows dim, The robin chaunts his funeral hymn. Now, o'er the landscape slowing sailing Robes of mist around her trailing Comes the Night, bright, mild, and gracious; Through the blue ethereal spacious, Walks the full-orbed moon in splendour Chaste, serene, and meekly tender. Dost thou gazeHeaven's fairest daughter On western fields of cruel slaughter; Fall thy beams, with weeping grace, On many a pale and gory face, In purple pools of blood reflected Whence peace and mercy fly rejected? Dost thou, beauteous orb benign, On the patriot captive shine, And on that more than regal head Thy gentle, soothing influence shed? And while on prison couch he lies, Tracing thy course through midnight skies, Oh! whisper in his wakeful ear With spirit voice soft words of cheer And say that Liberty divine Shall call him yet to guard her shrine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS AFTER TENNYSON by AMBROSE BIERCE QUARTET IN F MAJOR by WILLIAM MEREDITH CROSS THAT LINE by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE EMANCIPATION by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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