A hundred years ago the church bells spoke Resonant through the sleeping market place. The drowsy little village stirred and woke To the ancient beauty of the commonplace. The chimneys smoked, the morning tasks were taken Lads awoke jubilant to breathe the name Of a dear unnamed one, with her hair downshaken, Sighing to pass the hours till evening came. And in the evening sat the older folks To talk of how the young world took to sin. Down at the corner old men changed old jokes And thought the stage was late getting in. The stars came out, the cool earth whirled to morn, An old man died and a young child was born. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUI S'EXCUSE S'ACCUSE by MARIANNE MOORE TO A FRIEND IN THE MAKING by MARIANNE MOORE PLAYING SOMEONE ELSE'S PIANO by KAREN SWENSON WELCOME by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) MY LADY'S TEARS by JOHN DOWLAND ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 98 by PHILIP SIDNEY A DESCRIPTION OF SUCH A ONE AS HE WOULD LOVE by THOMAS WYATT |