Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ABBOT, by CONSTANCE CAROLINE WOODHILL NADEN Poet's Biography First Line: Slowly, with dream-like sadness, tolled Last Line: That treasured lock of gold. Subject(s): Monasteries; Monks; Abbeys | ||||||||
SLOWLY, with dream-like sadness, tolled The monastery bell; The Abbot of those cloisters old Lay dead within his cell. The monks were gathered round his bed; Solemn and still they stood; The fearful presence of the dead Awed that stern brotherhood. They gazed upon his hoary head, And on his noble brow; They saw the form whence life had fled -- Where was the spirit now? Strong will was his, a nature stern, That loved nor wine nor gold: Did youthful passion ever burn Within that bosom cold? The monks had loosed his rugged vest, While yet alive he lay: What saw they on that wasted breast That gleamed so golden gay? No shining cross, no image fair, Those eager brethren found; Only a tress of golden hair, With a black ribbon bound. They gazed upon that witness dumb, That told of love and death; Some spake with scorn, with pity some, But all with bated breath. "Lay it again upon his breast," An ancient brother said; "His soul hath entered into rest; Judge not the silent dead. "Long hath he lived a life apart From every earthly snare; Yet who shall say what aching heart Throbbed 'neath his shirt of hair? "Blame not his long-enduring love, Nor call it weak and vain, But pray that he, in realms above, May meet his bride again." They buried him beneath the shade Of cloisters grey and old; And near his silent heart they laid That treasured lock of gold. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SEMBLABLES by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS VERSES FROM THE GRANDE CHARTREUSE by MATTHEW ARNOLD NETLEY ABBEY; A LEGEND OF HAMPSHIRE by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM A NIGHT FANCY by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE ELEGY ON NEWSTEAD ABBEY by GEORGE GORDON BYRON NEWSTEAD ABBEY by GEORGE GORDON BYRON SONNET WRITTEN IN A RUINOUS ABBEY by SUSAN EVANCE WRITTEN AT NETLEY ABBEY by SUSAN EVANCE THE ABBEY MASON (WITH MEMORIES OF JOHN HICKS, ARCHITECT) by THOMAS HARDY A LETTER by CONSTANCE CAROLINE WOODHILL NADEN |
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