Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAY MORNING, by MARCUS S. C. RICKARDS First Line: One flashed upon her dreaming Last Line: His promise to recall. Subject(s): Hearts; Heaven; Life; Love; May (month); Paradise | ||||||||
ONE flashed upon her dreaming As died an April moon, And promised, ere the beaming Of May's first lovely noon, Such vital scenes to show her, Above, around, below her, As scanned, should overflow her Sad heart with Heaven's best boon. "I mark the doubts that vex thee," So spake the seraph tongue, "For rival faiths perplex thee, Each eloquently sung. Unseen before thee gliding, Do thou obey my guiding, Thine only the deciding, Away! while Dawn is young." They sought at Morn's faint flushing The hoary Oxford tower, And heard the strains up-gushing To hallow May's prime hour, In music pure ascending As tho' young spirits blending In unity were lending To Heaven their freshest power. Then down a vista glancing, They spied a village green, Where merry girls were dancing Around a sceptred queen, Crowned as with flowers Elysian, Born of Youth's fairest vision, Yet in scarce veiled derision Of the illusive scene. "See imaged here both courses," He cried, "the twain that tempt With silent, subtle forces; Of each thy soul has dreamt -- Now, like those young hearts quiring, To Heavenly Joy aspiring; Now throned for eyes admiring, And mirth that breeds contempt." "But hence!" and on they wandered To haunts of sin and shame, Where pensive spirits pondered With lofty look and aim. Fair women with bright graces, Brave men with angel faces, Scorned the smooth World's embraces Vile truants to reclaim: Next to dull homes where Beauty Toils on unprized, unknown, Heedful of naught but Duty, Stamped as her very own -- To shops and desks where tender And bright charms lose their splendour That Truth and Love may render Full tale when all is shown. And then to Halls where Fashion Reclined in gilded state -- Sweet arbours where soft Passion Would fain intoxicate -- Red fields where laurelled glory Clangs forth a martial story -- Bright courts where brows ungory Fame's peaceful bays await -- Sweet fields where rural pleasure Wooes every shifting mood -- Groves sacred to the leisure Of hearts that muse and brood. And then they sought calm Ocean, Whose song inspired the notion Of deep true glad devotion To overarching Good. "Thy choice?" he asked. All glistened, Life sparkled, Earth seemed dear; When softly, while she listened, A cadence smote her ear, A chime whose tender pealing O'er tranquil Ocean stealing Seemed, to impassioned feeling, To sound a summons clear. "Scorn thou, in Life's fair hey-day, Vain sloth and hollow glee! Hear now on this sweet May-day My welcome, "Follow Me!" Both echo it, who slighted All that had else delighted, Apostles Mine, united In saintly Pedigree." The Angel left her, lending Full audience to the call -- Her pliant spirit bending A captive in sure thrall -- Grace, Love and Peace surrounding, Divine content abounding, The hour meridian sounding, His Promise to recall. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE END OF LIFE by PHILIP JAMES BAILEY SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 6 by CONRAD AIKEN THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#19): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND WINTER by MARVIN BELL THE WORLDS IN THIS WORLD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SKELETON FOR MR. PAUL IN PARADISE; AFTER ALLAN GUISINGER by NORMAN DUBIE BEAUTY & RESTRAINT by DANIEL HALPERN HOW IT WILL HAPPEN, WHEN by DORIANNE LAUX IF THIS IS PARADISE by DORIANNE LAUX A DREAM OF PERFECTION by MARCUS S. C. RICKARDS |
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