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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NIGHT WATCHERS, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: How goes the night, faun?' lo, the woodland crier's eyes Last Line: At dawn-time, and vanish with the light! Subject(s): Night; Bedtime | |||
"How goes the night, Faun?" Lo, the woodland crier's eyes Piercing through the velvet dark with answer like a jest: "Hours three to bright dawn! Still the white owl flies Blundering where the rabbits hide, cruel on his quest." Then the running hoofs that spurn Clinging vine and heavy fern. Dryads stir in rich, rare dreaming, with the sorrow-dreaming trees. "Remember, remember the golden-prowed embarkments, the old Grecian glory, the ships that ploughed their seas!" "How goes the night, Faun?" Feet that pause and breath that shakes -- Rustle in the covert as he gasps to ease his side. "Hours twain to bright dawn! Only now the snail wakes, Trailing phosphorescence down the leaf-track he must glide." Then his running hoofs that take Crackling hurdle of the brake. Dryads sigh with tender dreamings, as the tall trees sigh with years. "Remember, remember the slow, enchanted dawning, the white and vestal altar, and olden lovers' tears!" "How goes the night, Faun?" Dim he halts beyond the copse. A glimmer of horn tips. A face but half descried. "Hours one to bright dawn! Wane the stars. The sun drops Cloak and mantle from him, and o'er mountains comes his stride." Then his weary hoofs that fade With light patter down the glade. Dryads blush to secret waking as the trees emerge from night. "But, mortal, remember, we weave you spells by starshine to break your heart at dawn-time, and vanish with the light! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREATH OF NIGHT by RANDALL JARRELL HOODED NIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS WORKING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT by DENIS JOHNSON POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN COOL DARK ODE by DONALD JUSTICE POEM TO BE READ AT 3 A.M by DONALD JUSTICE ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT by BOB KAUFMAN THE FALCONER OF GOD by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |
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