Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SUMMONS; MARCH 28, 1884, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SUMMONS; MARCH 28, 1884, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Away from love of child and wife
Last Line: The constant presence of a friend.
Subject(s): Death; Dead, The


AWAY from love of child and wife,
From the first flush of ripening life,
From books and Art, from all things fair,
From homely joys, from public care,
A low voice summons us away,
And prince and peasant must obey.

Sometimes amid the noonday throng,
Amid the feast, the dance, the song,
Amid the daily wholesome round,
The inevitable accents sound,
And the ear hears the summons come
As his who calls the truant home.

And sometimes in the lonely night
It sounds and brings with it the light.
Alone, with none but strangers nigh,
Comes the cold voice which bids us die;
Sudden, or after months of pain,
And weary vigils spent in vain.

What shall it bring of profit then
To have loomed large in the eyes of men?
Or what of comfort shall endure,
Save soaring thoughts and memories pure?
Nought else of thoughts and things that be
Can solace that great misery.

Oh dreadful summons, full of fear
For weakling mortal souls to hear!
When that last moment shall be ours,
'Mid failing brain and sinking powers,
May one great strength our steps attend,
The constant presence of a Friend.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net