Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONG WRITTEN FOR THE DINNER GIVEN TO CHARLES DICKENS, by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The stars their early vigils keep Last Line: Our western skies in flame! Subject(s): Dickens, Charles (1812-1870) | ||||||||
THE stars their early vigils keep, The silent hours are near, When drooping eyes forget to weep, -- Yet still we linger here; And what -- the passing churl may ask -- Can claim such wondrous power, That Toil forgets his wonted task, And Love his promised hour? The Irish harp no longer thrills, Or breathes a fainter tone; The clarion blast from Scotland's hills, Alas! no more is blown; And Passion's burning lip bewails Her Harold's wasted fire, Still lingering o'er the dust that veils The Lord of England's lyre. But grieve not o'er its broken strings, Nor think its soul hath died, While yet the lark at heaven's gate sings, As once o'er Avon's side; While gentle summer sheds her bloom, And dewy blossoms wave, Alike o'er Juliet's storied tomb And Nelly's nameless grave. Thou glorious island of the sea! Though wide the wasting flood That parts our distant land from thee, We claim thy generous blood; Nor o'er thy far horizon springs One hallowed star of fame, But kindles, like an angel's wings, Our western skies in flame! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DICKENS IN CAMP by FRANCIS BRET HARTE SIR W. TRELOAR'S DINNER FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN IN MEMORIAM: DICKENS by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE TO C. DICKENS, ESQ. ON HIS DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA by THOMAS HOOD TO CHARLES DICKENS by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR BALLADE OF A DENATURED CHRISTMAS by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE ST. LIRRIPER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY DICKENS by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY [DECEMBER 16, 1773] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES |
|