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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN EVENING SONG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If from my painting one hue
Last Line: In the king's hall.


IF from my painting one hue,
If from my singing one line,
If from my building one true
Hint of design;

If from my carving one curve,
If from my wisdom one phrase
The Master sees fit to preserve --
Joyous my days.

May this be said of me:
"He gave to sound one cry,
To life one memory
That would not die.

"He took from strife her sword;
He gave to peace his breath."
May this be said, O Lord,
Of me at death.

Happy is he who at last
Hears the immortal choir
Gather one note of his blast
From the destroying fire;

Or who knows that, at night,
When the dusk curtains fall,
He has left one guiding light
In the King's hall.





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