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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONNET: OCTOBER, 1879 by CONSTANCE CAROLINE WOODHILL NADEN

First Line: THROUGH ALL THE DOLOROUS YEAR MINE EYES HAVE SOUGHT
Last Line: SWEET AS NEW JOYS THAT SPRING WHEN HOPE IS DEAD.

THROUGH all the dolorous year mine eyes have sought
The ever-living loveliness that cleaves
Even to dim grey skies and rain-bent sheaves;
Still is my garden with such beauty fraught,
And bright azaleas flash me back my thought;
Their sunny flowers are fallen, but the leaves
Flame gold and scarlet, and my heart receives
Delight more full than spring or summer brought.

And I can twine a rich October crown
With branchlets of the golden-tressed birch,
Green cedar plumes, and beech-leaves ruddy brown,
And woodbine gems, of pure translucent red;
Even some lonely flowers may cheer my search,
Sweet as new joys that spring when hope is dead.





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