Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MUSIC O' THE DEAD, by WILLIAM BARNES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When music, in a heart that's true Last Line: The music o' the dead, john. Subject(s): Death; Memory; Mourning; Music & Musicians; Dead, The; Bereavement | ||||||||
When music, in a heart that's true, Do kindle up wold loves anew, An' dim wet eyes, in feäirest lights, Do zee but inward fancy's zights; When creepèn years, wi' with'rèn blights, 'V a-took off them that wer so dear, How touchèn 'tis if we do hear The tuèns o' the dead, John. When I, a-stannèn in the lew O' trees a storm's a-beätèn drough, Do zee the slantèn mist a-drove By spitevul winds along the grove, An' hear their hollow sounds above My shelter'd head, do seem, as I Do think o' zunny days gone by, Lik' music vor the dead, John. Last night, as I wer gwaïn along The brook, I heärd the milk-maïd's zong A-ringèn out so clear an' shrill Along the meäds an' roun' the hill. I catch'd the tuèn, an' stood still To hear't; 'twer woone that Jeäne did zing A-vield a-milkèn in the spring, Sweet music o' the dead, John. Don't tell o' zongs that be a-zung By young chaps now, wi' sheämeless tongue: Zing me wold ditties, that would start The maïdens' tears, or stir my heart To teäke in life a manly peärt, The wold vo'k's zongs that twold a teäle, An' vollow'd round their mugs o' eäle, The music o' the dead, John. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUNGERFIELD by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN HECUBA MOURNS by MARILYN NELSON THERE IS NO GOD BUT by AGHA SHAHID ALI IF I COULD MOURN LIKE A MOURNING DOVE by FRANK BIDART A WINTER NIGHT by WILLIAM BARNES |
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