The busy day has hurried by And hearts greet kindred hearts once more And swift the evening hours should fly But what turns every gleaming eye So often to the door? And then so quick away -- and why Does sudden silence chill the room? And laughter sink into a sigh -- And merry words to whispers die -- And gladness change to gloom? O we are listening for a sound We know shall ne'er be heard again Sweet voices in the halls resound; Fair forms, fond faces gather round But all in vain -- in vain! Their feet shall never waken more The echoes in these galleries wide, Nor dare the snow on the mountain's brow, Nor skim the river's frozen flow, Nor wander down its side -- They who have been our life -- our soul -- Through summer-youth, from childhood's spring -- Who bound us in one vigorous whole To stand 'gainst Tyranny's control For ever triumphing -- Who bore the brunt of battle's fray The first to fight, the last to fall Whose mighty minds -- with kindred ray Still led the van in Glory's way -- The idol chiefs of all -- They, they are gone! not for a while As golden suns at night decline And even in death our grief beguile Foretelling, with a rose-red smile How bright the morn will shine -- No these dark towers are lone and lorn; This very crowd is vacancy; And we must watch and wait and mourn And half look out for their return; And think their forms we see -- And fancy music in our ear Such as their lips could only pour And think we feel their presence near And start to find they are not here And never shall be more! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 32 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE SWAMP ANGEL by HERMAN MELVILLE ANIMAL CRACKERS by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY ALFRED THE HARPER by JOHN STERLING (1806-1844) QUATRAIN: THE PARCAE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |