Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CHOOSING HYMNS by JOHN FREEMAN

First Line: WE SAT AND SANG OUR HYMNS. THE SWEET- / MOUTHED ORGAN
Last Line: THE YOUNG NAKED MOON COUCHED ON THE HAWTHORN'S BREAST.
Subject(s): HYMNS (AS LITERARY FORM); MUSIC & MUSICIANS;

WE sat and sang our hymns. The sweet-mouthed organ
Muted its music into dreariest drones.
The widow chose, then the aunt and strait-lipped daughter,
And rejoiced in the lingering, lugubrious tones.

Through the west mullion I could see the hawthorn
Baring his boughs, and scarce a leaf left behind.
The plain cold light grew dusk as we chose on,
And voices with the sad-stopped organ whined.

And then I chose "The Church's One Foundation,"
Because, I said, as a boy I liked it best.
As we sang all five versus I saw through the window
The young naked moon couched on the hawthorn's breast.



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