Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PAST, by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE Poet's Biography First Line: From the far off time of my youthful prime Last Line: Except in the land of dreams. Alternate Author Name(s): Speranza; Elgee, Jane Francesca; Wilde, William Robert Wills, Mrs. Subject(s): Past | ||||||||
FROM the far off time of my youthful prime A light comes evermore; Oh! it seems so bright in its far-off light, The glory I had of yore. What the swallow sang with its silvery clang, When autumn and spring were near; What the church bells rung and the choristers sung, The chant and the song I hear. Oh! that parting day when I went away, How my heart to joy awoke! And again I came, but ah! not the same, For the trusting heart was broke. Since that parting day -- that parting day -- Through the fair bright world I've ranged, And the world is there still as bright and fair -- But I -- 'tis I have changed. Oh! childhood's truth, with its words of sooth, And its lips as pure as gold, Like a bird it sung, and its untaught tongue Was wise as the prophets of old. Bright home and hearth, in this joyless dearth, Could thy holy vision gleam But once, once more from the far-off shore Of the past, as a heavenly dream! Oh! the swallow may come from her southern home, The spendthrift regain his gold, The church bells ring, and the choristers sing Again as they did of old; But the hopes of youth and its trusting truth, And bright sunny laughter gleams, Once passed and o'er, can return no more, Except in the land of dreams. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FERGUS FALLING by GALWAY KINNELL A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV LAST THINGS by WILLIAM MEREDITH CHRISTMAS TREE by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS THIS MORNING, GOD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE FAMINE YEAR by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE A LAMENT by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE A REMONSTRANCE; ADDRESSED TO D. FLORENCE M'CARTHY, M.R.I.A. by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE |
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