THE Play is over. While the light Yet lingers in the darkening hall, I come to say a last Good-night Before the final Exeunt all. We gathered once, a joyous throng: The jovial toasts went gayly round; With jest, and laugh, and shout, and song, We made the floors and walls resound. We come with feeble steps and slow, A little band of four or five, Left from the wrecks of long ago, Still pleased to find ourselves alive. Alive! How living, too, are they Whose memories it is ours to share! Spread the long table's full array, -- There sits a ghost in every chair! One breathing form no more, alas! Amid our slender group we see; With him we still remained "The Class," -- Without his presence what are we? The hand we ever loved to clasp, -- That tireless hand which knew no rest, -- Loosed from affection's clinging grasp, Lies nerveless on the peaceful breast. The beaming eye, the cheering voice, That lent to life a generous glow, Whose every meaning said "Rejoice," We see, we hear, no more below. The air seems darkened by his loss, Earth's shadowed features look less fair, And heavier weighs the daily cross His willing shoulders helped us bear. Why mourn that we, the favored few Whom grasping Time so long has spared Life's sweet illusions to pursue, The common lot of age have shared? In every pulse of Friendship's heart There breeds unfelt a throb of pain, -- One hour must rend its links apart, Though years on years have forged the chain. So ends "The Boys," -- a lifelong play. We too must hear the Prompter's call To fairer scenes and brighter day: Farewell! I let the curtain fall. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SPIRIT PASSED BEFORE ME by GEORGE GORDON BYRON FOR THAT HE LOOKED NOT UPON HER by GEORGE GASCOIGNE CHANNEL FIRING by THOMAS HARDY THE SLAVE MOTHER by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER THE NEW INN: A VISION OF BEAUTY by BEN JONSON LAUS VENERIS by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A LUNCHEON (THOMAS HARDY ENTERTAINS THE PRINCE OF WALES) by HENRY MAXIMILIAN BEERBOHM |