Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: They grew in beauty, side by side
Last Line: And naught beyond, o earth!
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Cemeteries; Women; Graveyards


THEY grew in beauty side by side,
They filled one home with glee;
Their graves are severed far and wide,
By mount, and stream, and sea.

The same fond mother bent at night
O'er each fair sleeping brow:
She had each folded flower in sight --
Where are those dreamers now?

One, midst the forest of the West,
By a dark stream is laid --
The Indian knows his place of rest,
Far in the cedar-shade.

The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one --
He lies where pearls lie deep;
He was the loved of all, yet none
O'er his low bed may weep.

One sleeps where southern vines are drest
Above the noble slain:
He wrapt his colors round his breast
On a blood-red field of Spain.

And one -- o'er her the myrtle showers
Its leaves, by soft winds fanned;
She faded midst Italian flowers --
The last of that bright band,

And parted thus they rest, who played
Beneath the same green tree;
Whose voices mingled as they prayed
Around one parent knee!

They that with smiles lit up the hall,
And cheered with song the hearth! --
Alas, for love! if thou wert all,
And naught beyond, O Earth!





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