DOWN old ways the monks pass ringing Masses for the lost dead; bringing Strange white herds to join their singing — @3Miserere, Domine@1. Hunted, lonely, waked from sleeping, In the haunted stillness creeping, Timid shadows linger weeping — @3Miserere, Domine@1. From their tombs in grave-sheets mobbing, — Listen to their heart-sick sobbing Through the mellow moonlight throbbing — @3Miserere, Domine@1. Golden lilies, fragrance trailing, Shades of blood their fairness veiling, Tremble at the hopeless wailing — @3Miserere, Domine@1. Cypress plumes in night-winds blowing, Wild white roses incense sowing, Stir the air to mystic knowing — @3Miserere, Domine@1. Ever nearer, clearer, calling, On they sweep with shrieks appalling, Echoes from dark archways falling — @3Miserere, Domine@1. . . . . . . . . . . Now at last they pause, slow kneeling, Silence softly on them stealing; Hark, the bells have ceased their pealing — @3Miserere, Domine@1. Softly, softly, grave-stones closing, Shut the dead to mute reposing Back within the warm earth dozing — @3Miserere, Domine@1. And the sun, glad day betraying, — Down the paling highway straying, Only two brown monks finds praying — @3Miserere, Domine@1. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ONE FAVORED ACORN by ROBERT FROST ODE TO THE CUCKOO by MICHAEL BRUCE THE DARK MAN by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER SUMMER DAWN by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) ON THE MEDUSA OF LEONARDO DA VINCI IN THE FLORENTINE GALLERY by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY SONG by MARGARET STEELE ANDERSON SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 38. THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |