Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH-MASK OF JOHN CLARE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Kind was the hand that at the last Last Line: Your prison with a smile. Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund Subject(s): Clare, John (1793-1864) | ||||||||
KIND was the hand that at the last This mortal likeness drew, And more than kindness took the cast -- 'Twas prophecy, come true. Doubt surely questioned, why record This old forgotten face? But after-time with love's reward Has blessed the act of grace. So, Clare, your rich, sweet, serious gaze Meets me through sixty years, Now sets my wonderment ablaze, Now fascinates my tears. I think when young you blushed among The gay town's curious eyes; How tripped the truth from beauty's tongue, "A noble in disguise!" God's noble, slave of earth, upraised To bright conception's song, And by the world down dashed and dazed, How held you out so long? For even the raven's young, you said, Are answered when they cry, But when your children wanted bread, At length the stony sky Seemed all one frown! the tired mind groaned Defeat day after day, And purpose to the dust dethroned In riddles mocked the play. Then from loved fields, from wife, from child, You helplessly were haled; Where the thronged mad high heaven reviled Was freedom's friend enjailed. Twenty dim years you lived where some Gnash ivy from the wall, And other shrieking, others dumb With their dark daemons brawl. Still welcomed you the bee and bird In morning's crystal dew, Still garlanded with spring-like word Spring's "gold yminted new." A thrall, you reached the allotted span, Your countenance wore no sign Of your Bastille, you looked the Man, Serene and nigh divine. Came death; the boundary wall was cleft, Green pastures mile on mile Gleamed flowers your childhood knew, you left Your prison with a smile. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOHN CLARE'S LAST LETTER by BILL HOLM ALMSWOMEN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN FOREFATHERS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN REPORT ON EXPERIENCE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN SOLUTIONS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE GIANT PUFFBALL by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE MIDNIGHT SKATERS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN VLAMERTINGHE: PASSING THE CHATEAU, JULY 1917 by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |
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