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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT THE MERMAID INN; AFTER THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF HAMLET, by CHARLES LOTIN HILDRETH First Line: At table yonder sits the man we seek Last Line: While youth has hope, and love is yet divine. | |||
AT table yonder sits the man we seek, Beside the ingle, where the crimson flare Reveals him through the eddying tavern reek, Reclining easeful in his leathern chair; In russet doublet, bearded and benign, He looks a worthy burgher at his wine. Even so; but when thy veins ran fire tonight, Thy hand crept knotted to thy sword-hilt there, And through all moods of madness and delight Thy soul was hurried headlong, unaware, It seemed the genius or the scene should be Some radiant shape, brow-bound with majesty. And lo! a man unsingled from the crowd By quick recognizance of reverent eyes, A dim, inobvious presence, kindly-browed, That sits apart, observant, thoughtful-wise, Weaving -- who knows? -- what wondrous woof of song, What other Hamlet, from the shifting throng. A pale, plain-favored face, the smile whereof Is beautiful; the eyes gray, changeful, bright, Low-lidded now, and luminous as love; Anon soul-searching, ominous as night, Seer-like, inscrutable, revealing deeps Wherein a mighty spirit wakes or sleeps. Here, where my outstretched hand might touch his arm, I gaze upon that mild and lofty mien, With that deep awe and unexpressive charm I feel in wide sea-solitudes serene; Or on some immemorial mountain's crest -- Eternity unveiled and manifest. For he hath wrought with nature and made known The marvel and the majesty of life; Translating from the pages of his own The mighty heart of man, the stress and strife, The pain, the passion, and the bitter leaven, The care that quell, the dreams that soar to heaven. So, whatsoever time shall make or mar, Or fate decree of benison or blame, This poet-player, like a wondrous star, Shall shed the solemn splendor of his fame, Wide as the world, while beauty has a shrine, While youth has hope, and love is yet divine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO AN OBSCURE POET WHO LIVES ON MY HEARTH by CHARLES LOTIN HILDRETH THE BLIND GOD by ISAAC ROSENBERG HYBRIDS OF WAR: A MORALITY POEM: 4. THE MORAL by KAREN SWENSON THE SEA-GRAVE by SARA TEASDALE THE BRIDE AND GROOM by WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 70, 71. MUKADDIM, MUWAKHIR by EDWIN ARNOLD A CHILD'S FANCY by MATHILDE BLIND THE FIERCE BIRDS by VALERY YAKOVLEVICH BRYUSOV ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN BY LORD KNOWLES: SONG 4 by THOMAS CAMPION |
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