Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE END, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: There are lilies for her sisters Last Line: And leaning from the door. Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Subject(s): Angels; Death; Flowers; Heaven; Lilies; Love; Dead, The; Paradise | ||||||||
There are lilies for her sisters -- (Who so cold as they?) -- And heartsease for one I must not name When I am far away. I shall pluck the lady lilies And fancy all the rest; I shall pluck the bright eyed heartsease For her sake I love the best, As I wander on with weary feet Toward the twilight shadowy west. Oh bird that fliest eastward Unto that sunny land Oh wilt thou 'light on lilies white Beside her whiter hand? Soft summer wind that breathest Of perfumes and sweet spice, Ah tell her what I dare not tell Of watchful waiting eyes Of love that yet may meet again In distant Paradise. I go from earth to Heaven A dim uncertain road, A houseless pilgrim thro' the world Unto a sure abode: While evermore an Angel Goes with me day and night, A ministering spirit From the land of light, My holy fellow servant sent To guide my steps aright. I wonder if the Angels Love with such love as our's, If for each other's sake they pluck And keep eternal flowers. Alone I am and weary, Alone yet not alone: Her soul talks with me by the way From tedious stone to stone, A blessed Angel treads with me The awful paths unknown. When will the long road end in rest, The sick bird perch and brood? When will my Guardian fold his wings At rest in the finished good? -- Lulling lulling me off to sleep: While death's strong hand doth roll My sins behind His back, And my life up like a scroll, Till thro' sleep I hear kind Angels Rejoicing at the goal. If her spirit went before me Up from night to day, It would pass me like the lightning That kindles on its way. I should feel it like the lightning Flashing fresh from Heaven: I should long for Heaven sevenfold more, Yea and sevenfold seven; Should pray as I have not prayed before, And strive as I have not striven. She will learn new love in Heaven Who is so full of love, She will learn new depths of tenderness Who is tender like a dove. Her heart will no more sorrow, Her eyes will weep no more: Yet it may be she will yearn And look back from far before: Lingering on the golden threshold And leaning from the door. | 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 IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
|