Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 62 by ALFRED TENNYSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: THO' IF AN EYE THAT'S DOWNWARD CAST
Last Line: IS MATTER FOR A FLYING SMILE.
Subject(s): HALLAM, ARTHUR HENRY (1811-1833); DEATH; MOURNING; FRIENDSHIP;

Tho' if an eye that's downward cast
Could make thee somewhat blench or fail,
Then be my love an idle tale
And fading legend of the past;

And thou, as one that once declined,
When he was little more than boy,
On some unworthy heart with joy,
But lives to wed an equal mind,

And breathes a novel world, the while
His other passion wholly dies,
Or in the light of deeper eyes
Is matter for a flying smile.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net