ALL my life long I've wandered on so sadly, For love and joy in childhood 'gan my quest, Like butterflies I saw them flit before me, Which now and then upon a flower rest; They lured me on till evening shades came gliding, But when the mists rose to the mountain's brow, Downward they sank, within the blossoms' hiding, While my hand only grasped the thorny bough. Lying too weary e'en to stir a finger, Prone on the turf, with the chill hoar-frost wet, Again the lovely creatures hover, linger, But none upon the flowers have settled yet. Higher they soar and higher, upward still, then Vanish forever from my tearful eyes; Slowly the leaves fall from the churchyard linden, Whispering low: Joy dwells beyond the skies! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG by OLIVER GOLDSMITH A RONDEL OF LUVE [LOVE] by ALEXANDER SCOTT (1520-1590) CASTLES IN THE AIR by JAMES BALLANTYNE SONG by CHARLES GRANGER BLANDEN THE INDIAN GONE! by JOSIAH D. CANNING THE SPECIAL DARLING by ALICE CARY TO A YOUNG LADY, WITH A POEM ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |