Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG OF THE GOING AWAY, by JEAN INGELOW


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG OF THE GOING AWAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Old man, upon the green hill-side
Last Line: "when he crieth, ""awake!""'"
Subject(s): Farewell; Life; Peace; Singing & Singers; Parting; Songs


OLD man, upon the green hill-side,
With yellow flowers besprinkled o'er,
How long in silence wilt thou bide
At this low stone door?

'I stoop: within 't is dark and still;
But shadowy paths methinks there be,
And lead they far into the hill?'
'Traveller, come and see.'

''T is dark, 't is cold, and hung with gloom;
I care not now within to stay;
For thee and me is scarcely room,
I will hence away.'

'Not so, not so, thou youthful guest,
Thy foot shall issue forth no more
Behold the chamber of thy rest,
And the closing door!'

'Oh! have I 'scaped the whistling ball,
And striven on smoky fields of fight,
And scaled the 'leaguered city's wall
In the dangerous night;

'And borne my life unharmed still
Through foaming gulfs of yeasty spray,
To yield it on a grassy hill
At the noon of day?'

'Peace! Say thy prayers, and go to sleep,
Till SOME TIME, ONE my seal shall break
And deep shall answer unto deep,
When He crieth, "AWAKE!"'





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