Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OUR SWEET SINGER, by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: One memory trembles on our lips Last Line: Thou shouldst thyself have sung! Subject(s): Angier, Joseph; Classmates; Schoolmates | ||||||||
ONE memory trembles on our lips; It throbs in every breast; In tear-dimmed eyes, in mirth's eclipse, The shadow stands confessed. O silent voice, that cheered so long Our manhood's marching day, Without thy breath of heavenly song, How weary seems the way! Vain every pictured phrase to tell Our sorrowing heart's desire, -- The shattered harp, the broken shell, The silent unstrung lyre; For youth was round us while he sang; It glowed in every tone; With bridal chimes the echoes rang, And made the past our own. Oh blissful dream! Our nursery joys We know must have an end, But love and friendship's broken toys May God's good angels mend! The cheering smile, the voice of mirth And laughter's gay surprise That please the children born of earth, Why deem that Heaven denies? Methinks in that refulgent sphere That knows not sun or moon, An earth-born saint might long to hear One verse of "Bonny Doon;" Or walking through the streets of gold In heaven's unclouded light, His lips recall the song of old And hum "The sky is bright." And can we smile when thou art dead? Ah, brothers, even so! The rose of summer will be red, In spite of winter's snow. Thou wouldst not leave us all in gloom Because thy song is still, Nor blight the banquet-garland's bloom With grief's untimely chill. The sighing wintry winds complain, -- The singing bird has flown, -- Hark! heard I not that ringing strain, That clear celestial tone? How poor these pallid phrases seem, How weak this tinkling line, As warbles through my waking dream That angel voice of thine! Thy requiem asks a sweeter lay; It falters on my tongue; For all we vainly strive to say, Thou shouldst thyself have sung! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CLASS by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER FOR A STUDENT SLEEPING IN A POETRY WORKSHOP by DAVID WAGONER BILL AND JOE by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE BOYS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE OLD MAN DREAMS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES GEORGE LEVISON OR, THE SCHOOLFELLOWS by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM BOOKS ET VERITAS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET CLASS POEM by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE THE GIRL FROM SOAP SUDS ROW by NATHALIA CRANE A BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY [DECEMBER 16, 1773] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES |
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