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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE STRING AROUND MY FINGER, by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD Poet's Biography First Line: The bell that strikes the warning hour Last Line: Another string around my finger. Subject(s): Memory | |||
"Et hæc olim meminisse juvabit." THE bell that strikes the warning hour, Reminds me that I should not linger, And winds around my heart its power, Tight as the string around my finger. A sweet good-night I give, and then Far from my thoughts I need must fling her, Who blessed that lovely evening, when She tied the string around my finger. Lovely and virtuous, kind and fair, A sweet-toned bell, O! who shall ring her! Of her let bell men all beware, Who ties such strings around their finger. What shall I do? -- I'll sit me down, And, in my leisure hours, I'll sing her Who gave me neither smile nor frown, But tied a thread around my finger. Now may the quiet star-lit hours Their gentlest dews and perfumes bring her; And morning show its sweetest flowers To her whose string is round my finger. And never more may I forget The spot where I so long did linger;-- But watch another chance, and get Another string around my finger. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEMORY AS A HEARING AID by TONY HOAGLAND THE SAME QUESTION by JOHN HOLLANDER FORGET HOW TO REMEMBER HOW TO FORGET by JOHN HOLLANDER ON THAT SIDE by LAWRENCE JOSEPH MEMORY OF A PORCH by DONALD JUSTICE BEYOND THE HUNTING WOODS by DONALD JUSTICE TO A FRIEND by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |
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