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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 38. THE MORROW'S MESSAGE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI

Poet Analysis

First Line: THOU GHOST,' I SAID, 'AND IS THY NAME TODAY?'
Last Line: "AND THRICE,--WHEREBY THE SHADOW OF DEATH IS DEAD."
Subject(s): DEATH; DESPAIR; LOVE; DEAD, THE;

"THOU Ghost," I said, "and is thy name To-day?--
Yesterday's son, with such an abject brow!--
And can To-morrow be more pale than thou?"
While yet I spoke, the silence answered: "Yea,
Henceforth our issue is all grieved and grey,
And each beforehand makes such poor avow
As of old leaves beneath the budding bough
Or night-drift that the sundawn shreds away."

Then cried I: "Mother of many malisons,
O Earth, receive me to thy dusty bed!"
But therewithal the tremulous silence said:
"Lo! Love yet bids thy lady greet thee once:--
Yea, twice,--whereby thy life is still the sun's;
And thrice,--whereby the shadow of death is dead."



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