The calm outgoing of a long, rich day, Checkered with storm and sunshine, gloom and light Now passing in pure, cloudless skies away, Withdrawing into silence of blank night. Thick shadows settle on the landscape bright, Like the weird cloud of death that falls apace On the still features of the passive face. Soothing and gentle as a mother's kiss, The touch that stopped the beating of the heart. A look so blissfully serene as this, Not all the joy of living could impart. Patient to bide, yet willing to depart, With dauntless faith and courage therewithal, The Master found her ready at his call. On such a golden evening forth there floats, Between the grave earth and the glowing sky In the clear air, unvexed with hazy motes, The mystic-winged and flickering butterfly, A human soul, that drifts at liberty, Ah! who can tell to what strange paradise, To what undreamed-of fields and lofty skies! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EMPEDOCLES ON ETNA; A DRAMATIC POEM by MATTHEW ARNOLD AELLA: MINSTREL'S MARRIAGE-SONG by THOMAS CHATTERTON THE BAYADERE by FRANCIS SALTUS SALTUS AN HYMN OF HEAVENLY LOVE by EDMUND SPENSER THE SECOND COMING by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE COMPLAINT OF POETIE, FOR THE DEATH OF LIBERALITE by RICHARD BARNFIELD |