Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHARLOTTE BRONTE, by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHARLOTTE BRONTE, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Through the deep shadows of the darkening years
Last Line: To many sorrowing, and one broken heart, %leaving thenceforth but memory, and - a name!
Subject(s): Bronte, Charlotte (1816-1855)


Through the deep shadows of the darkening years,
She strove with griefs, which oft were agonies, -
The traitorous Hopes transformed to haunting Fears,
The transient Raptures ending but in sighs:


Till at the last, the life-clouds cleared away,
The future bathed in promise heavenly bright,
She heard a tender voice which seemed to say,
At evening time, behold! I give thee light!


For love, true love, her woman's nature yearned, -
And now true Love hath crowned her longing wild,
And all without, and all within her burned
The glory of his Godhead undefiled.


A new world dawned upon her; divine forms
Gleamed in the sunset on her earnest eyes,
And throned above the years which set in storms,
She saw the opening gates of Paradise;


An earthly Eden, freed from earth's alloy;
Across the happy porch her footsteps passed,
When on the very threshold of her joy,
Death's sudden angel blew his trumpet blast:


The gates of light, as that fierce trumpet rang,
Dissolved, like some vain phantom of the air,
And born of desolation deep, outsprang
A passionate cry - the last - of her despair:


Love! we have been so happy! Must we part?
Even as she spoke the final darkness came,
To many sorrowing, and one broken heart,
Leaving thenceforth but memory, and - a name!






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