WHEN music's fading's faded, And the rose's death is dead, And my heart is fain of tears, because Mine eyes have none to shed; I said, Whence shall faith be fed? Canst thou be what thou hast been? No, no more what thou hast! Lo, all last things that I have known, And all that shall be last, Went past With the thing thou wast! If the petal of this Spring be As of the Spring that's flown, If the thought that now is sweet is As the sweet thought overblown; Alone Canst thou be thy self gone. To yester-rose a richer The rose-spray may bear; Thrice thousand fairer you may be, -- But tears for the fair You were When you first were fair! Know you where they have laid her, Maiden May that died -- With the loves that lived not Strowing her soft side? I cried, Where Has-been may hide? To him that waiteth, all things! Even death, if thou wait! And they that part too early May meet again too late: -- Ah, fate If meeting be too late! And when the year new-launched Shall from its wake extend The blossomy foam of Summer, What shall I attend, My friend! Flower of thee, my friend? Sweet shall have its sorrow, The rainbow its rain, Loving have its leaving, And bliss is of pain So fain, Ah, is she bliss or pain? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HEALALL by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS FARE WELL by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE SONG OF THE SHIRT by THOMAS HOOD BROWNING AT ASOLO by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON THE ROSY BOSOM'D HOURS by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE |