The piteous sobs that choke the Virgin's breath For him, the fair betrothed Youth, who lies Cold in the narrow dwelling, or the cries With which a Mother wails her darling's death, These from our nature's common impulse spring, Unblam'd, unprais'd; but o'er the piled earth Which hides the sheeted corse of grey-hair'd Worth, If droops the soaring Youth with slacken'd wing; If he recall in saddest minstrelsy Each tenderness bestow'd, each truth imprest, Such grief is Reason, Virtue, Piety! And from the Almighty Father shall descend Comforts on his late evening, whose young breast Mourns with no transient love the Aged Friend. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOOD COMPANY by KARLE WILSON BAKER THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 55. ST. VALENTINE'S DAY by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT EPISTLES ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF WOMEN: 3 by LUCY AIKEN INFLUENCE by BELLE BEARDEN BARRY A ROUND by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) OCTOBER, 1866 by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT HEIRS OF TWILIGHT by HELENE M. BUTEAU OSSIAN'S ADDRESS TO THE SUN IN 'CARTHON' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |