YES! I have seen the ancient oak On the dark deep water cast, And it was not felled by the woodman's stroke, Or the rush of the sweeping blast; For the axe might never touch that tree, And the air was still as a summer sea. I saw it fall, as falls a chief By an arrow in the fight, And the old woods shook to their loftiest leaf, At the crashing of its might; And the startled deer to their coverts drew, And the spray of the lake as a fountain's flew! 'Tis fallen! But think thou not I weep For the forest's pride o'er-thrown -- An old man's tears lie far too deep To be poured for this alone; But by that sign too well I know, That a youthful head, must soon be low! A youthful head, with its shining hair, And its bright quick-flashing eye -- Well may I weep! for the boy is fair, Too fair a thing to die! But on his brow the mark is set -- Oh! could my life redeem him yet! He bounded by me as I gazed Alone on the fatal sign, And it seemed like sunshine when he raised His joyous glance to mine. With a stag's fleet step he bounded by, So full of life -- but he must die! He must, he must! in that deep dell By that dark water's side, 'Tis known that ne'er a proud tree fell But an heir of his fathers' died. And he -- there's laughter in his eye, Joy in his voice -- yet he must die! I've borne him in these arms, that now Are nerveless and unstrung; And must I see, on that fair brow, The dust untimely flung? I must! -- yon green oak, branch and crest, Lies floating on the dark lake's breast The noble boy! -- how proudly sprung The falcon from his hand! It seemed like youth to see him young, A flower in his father's land! But the hour of the knell and the dirge is nigh, For the tree had fallen, and the flower must die. Say not 'tis vain! I tell thee, some Are warned by a meteor's light, Or a pale bird, flitting, calls them home, Or a voice on the winds by night; And they must go! And he too, he! -- Woe for the fall of the glorious Tree! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE ON THE POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS OF THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) BURNHAM-BEECHES by HENRY LUTTRELL THE EAGLE OF THE BLUE by HERMAN MELVILLE BURIAL by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY A SATIRE [OR, SATYR] AGAINST MANKIND by JOHN WILMOT CHANGE OF MOOD by HAROLD BERGMAN PSALM 122 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 53. FAREWELL TO JULIET (15) by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |