"Deep silence reigned, and dewy night Her silver vestment wore," "The breezy mount, the misty vale, Alternately I strayed; The Gothic spire, the lonely cell, My wandering eye surveyed." "'Twas Sophron's grove, an aged sire, Who, versed in Wisdom's lore, Now tuned his consecrated lyre, To close the silent hour." "The plumy tribes unceasing roam," "Thus restless Nature loves to range, Through life's gay scenes to rove; Till Reason prompts the happier change To Contemplation's grove! When Fortune smiled, when Pleasure wooed, How indolently gay! Life's transitory stream I viewed Unheeded waste away. The gay delusive dream once o'er, Calm Reason's thoughts arise; Obeyed the monitorial power That whispered, 'Now be wise.' This silent grove my search surveyed, Where Peace displays her charms: How free Contentment's humble shade From Fortune's wild alarms. Now free from each fantastic strife, Untroubled and serene, I wait the closing hour of life, To leave its empty scene." "There studious thought would wear the day, In each instructive page; Or happier speed the hours away, In converse with the Sage." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SOLDIER LISTENS by JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER WHEN YOU ARE OLD by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS CITY AND VILLAGE by ALEXANDER ANDERSON STANZAS ON THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS by BERNARD BARTON SONG by CHARLES GRANGER BLANDEN THE LAUGH by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN THE TWENTY-SEVENTH OF MARCH by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT |