Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PALINODE; AUTUMN, by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PALINODE; AUTUMN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Still thirteen years: 'tis autumn now
Last Line: "floats down, -- ""auf wiedersehen!"
Subject(s): Absence; Autumn; Seasons; Separation; Isolation; Fall


Still thirteen years: 'tis autumn now
On field and hill, in heart and brain;
The naked tress at evening sough;
The leaf to the forsaken bough
Sighs not, -- "Auf wiedersehen!"
Two watched yon oriole's pendent dome,
That now is void, and dank with rain,
And one, -- oh, hope more frail than foam!
The bird to his deserted home
Sings not, -- "Auf wiedersehen!"
The loath gate swings with rusty creak;
Once, parting there, we played at pain;
There came a parting, when the weak
And fading lips essayed to speak
Vainly, -- "Auf wiedersehen!"
Somewhere is comfort, somewhere faith,
Though thou in outer dark remain;
One sweet sad voice ennobles death,
And still, for eighteen centuries saith
Softly, -- "Auf wiedersehen!"
If earth another grave must bear,
Yet heaven hath won a sweeter strain,
And something whispers my despair,
That, from an orient chamber there,
Floats down, -- "Auf wiedersehen!"




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