WHY look the distant mountains So gloomy and so drear? Are rain-clouds passing o'er them, Or is the tempest near? No shadow of the tempest Is there, nor wind nor rain -- 'Tis Charon that is passing by, With all his gloomy train. The young men march before him, In all their strength and pride: The tender little infants, They totter by his side; The old men walk behind him, And earnestly they pray -- Both young and old imploring him To grant some brief delay. 'O Charon! halt, we pray thee, By yonder little town, Or near that sparkling fountain, Where the waters wimple down! The old will drink and be refreshed, The young the disc will fling, And the tender little children Pluck flowers beside the spring.' 'I will not stay my journey, Nor halt by any town, Near any sparkling fountain, Where the waters wimple down: The mothers coming to the well Would know the babes they bore; The wives would clasp their husbands, Nor could I part them more.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FREE FANTASIA ON JAPANESE THEMES by AMY LOWELL PARTING AT MORNING by ROBERT BROWNING ADVICE by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES SONNET: SILENCE by THOMAS HOOD A HOLIDAY by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE SONNET TO A CLAM by JOHN GODFREY SAXE SONG OF SLAVES IN THE DESERT by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER AMBITION by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE RING AND THE BOOK: BOOK 9. JURIS DOCTOR ... BOTTINIUS by ROBERT BROWNING |