Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AGE AND SONG (TO BARRY CORNWALL), by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In vain men tell us time can alter Last Line: That lives in light above men's lives. Variant Title(s): New Year's Eve Subject(s): Holidays; New Year; Procter, Bryan Waller (1787-1874); Time; Cornwall, Barry [pseud.] | ||||||||
In vain men tell us time can alter Old loves or make old memories falter, That with the old year the old year's life closes. The old dew still falls on the old sweet flowers, The old sun revives the new-fledged hours, The old summer rears the new-born roses. Much more of a Muse that bears upon her Raiment and wreath and flower and honor, Gathered long silence and long since woven, Fades not or falls as fall the vernal Blossoms that bear no fruit eternal, By summer or winter charred or cloven. No time casts down, no time upraises, Such loves, such memories, and such praises, As need no grace of sun or shower, No saving screen from frost or thunder, To tend and house around and under The imperishable and fearless flower. Old thanks, old thoughts, old aspirations, Outlive men's lives and lives of nations, Dead, but for one thing which survives -- The inalienable and unpriced treasure, The old joy of power, the old pride of pleasure, That lives in light above men's lives. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO BARRY CORNWALL by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR IN MEMORY OF BARRY CORNWALL by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A BALLAD OF DEATH by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A BALLAD OF LIFE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A CAMEO by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A CHRISTMAS CAROL by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A FORSAKEN GARDEN by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A LEAVE-TAKING by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A MATCH by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A RHYME by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE ANACTORIA by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE AVE ATQUE VALE; IN MEMORY OF CHARLES BAUDELAIRE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |
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