Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MONODY ON THE POET BRAINARD, by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MONODY ON THE POET BRAINARD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I roamed where thames
Last Line: Thrills deep within our souls. Lamented bard, farewell!
Subject(s): Brainard, John Gardiner Calkins


I ROAMED where Thames
Ocean's breast doth cheer,
Pouring from crystal urn, the waters sheen,
What time dim twilight's silent step was near,
And gathering dews impearled the margin green;
Yet, though mild autumn with a smile serene
Had gently fostered summer's lingering bloom,
Methought strange sadness brooded o'er the scene, --
While the lone river, murmuring on in gloom,
Deplored its sweetest bard, laid early in the tomb.
His soul for friendship formed, sublime, sincere, --
Of each ungenerous deed his high disdain,
Perchance the cold world scanned with eye severe; --
Perhaps his harp her guerdon failed to gain; --
But Nature guards his fame, for not in vain
He sang her shady dells, and mountains hoar, --
King Philip's billowy bay repeats his name,
To its gray tower, -- and with eternal roar
Niagara bears it on to the far-echoing shore.
Each sylvan haunt he loved, -- the simplest flower
That burned Heaven's incense in its bosom fair,
The crested billow with its fitful power, --
The chirping nest, that claimed another's care, --
All woke his worship, as some altar rare
Or sainted shrine doth win the pilgrim's knee; --
And he hath gone to rest, where earth and air
Lavish their sweetest charms, -- while loud and free
Sounds forth the wind-swept harp of his own native sea.
His country's brave defenders, few and gray,
By penury stricken, with despairing sighs, --
He nobly sang, and breathed a warning lay
Lest from their graves a withering curse should rise:
But now, where pure and bright, the peaceful skies
And watching stars look down, on Groton's height,
Their monument attracts the traveller's eyes,
Whose souls unshrinking took their martyr-flight,
When Arnold's traitor-sword fished out in fiendish might.
Youth with glad hand her frolic germs had sown,
And garlands clustered round his manly head, --
Those garlands withered, -- and he stood alone
While on his cheek the gnawing hectic fed, --
And chilling death-dews o'er his temple spread: --
But on his soul a quenchless star arose,
Whose hallowed beams their brightest lustre shed
When the dimmed eye to its last pillow goes, --
lie followed where it led, and found a saint's repose.
And now, farewell! -- The rippling stream shall hear
No more the echo of thy sportive oar;
Nor the loved group, thy father's halls that cheer,
Joy in the magic of thy presence more; --
Long shall their tears thy broken lyre deplore: --
Yet cloth thine image, warm and deathless, dwell
With those who love the minstrel's tuneful lore, --
And still thy music, like a treasured spell,
Thrills deep within our souls. Lamented bard, farewell!





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