Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MUSIC OF YESTERDAY, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MUSIC OF YESTERDAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The chord, the harp's full chord is hushed
Last Line: Ere this we know.
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Music & Musicians


THE chord, the harp's full chord is hushed,
The voice hath died away,
Whence music, like sweet waters, gushed
But yesterday.

The awakening note, the breeze-like swell,
The full o'ersweeping tone,
The sounds that sighed "Farewell, farewell!"
Are gone -- all gone!

The love, whose fervent spirit passed
With the rich measure's flow;
The grief, to which it sank at last --
Where are they now?

They are with the scents by summer's breath
Borne from a rose now shed:
With the words from lips long sealed in death --
Forever fled.

The sea-shell of its native deep
A moaning thrill retains;
But earth and air no record keep
Of parted strains.

And all the memories, all the dreams,
They woke in floating by;
The tender thoughts, the Elysian gleams --
Could these too die?

They died! As on the water's breast
The ripple melts away,
When the breeze that stirred it sinks to rest --
So perished they!

Mysterious in their sudden birth,
And mournful in their close,
Passing, and finding not on earth
Aim or repose.

Whence were they! -- like the breath of flowers
Why thus to come and go?
A long, long journey must be ours
Ere this we know.





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