Classic and Contemporary Poetry
REMEMBER OR FORGET, by C. HAMILTON AIDE First Line: I sat beside the streamlet Last Line: Or courage to forget. Subject(s): Forgetfulness | ||||||||
I SAT beside the streamlet, I watch'd the water flow, As we together watch'd it One little year ago: The soft rain patter'd on the leaves, The April grass was wet. Ah! folly to remember; 'Tis wiser to forget. The nightingales made vocal June's palace pav'd with gold; I watch'd the rose you gave me Its warm red heart unfold; But breath of rose and bird's song Were fraught with wild regret. 'T is madness to remember; 'T were wisdom to forget. I stood among the gold corn, Alas! no more, I knew, To gather gleaner's measure Of the love that fell from you. For me, no gracious harvest -- Would God we ne'er had met! 'T is hard, Love, to remember, but 'T is harder to forget. The streamlet now is frozen, The nightingales are fled, The cornfields are deserted, And every rose is dead. I sit beside my lonely fire, And pray for wisdom yet. For calmness to remember, Or courage to forget. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONNETS: 1 by DAVID LEHMAN THE MUSIC BOX by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE MUDDY KID COMES HOME by SANDRA CISNEROS FUNCTIONAL FORGETTING by STEPHEN DOBYNS SHOYN FERGESSIN: 'I'VE FORGOTTEN' IN YIDDISH by ALBERT GOLDBARTH THE GIFT TO SING by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SINGING BACK THE WORLD by DORIANNE LAUX IT'S NOT COLD HERE by ELEANOR WILNER THE DANUBE RIVER by C. HAMILTON AIDE |
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