Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ABER STATIONS: STATIO TERTIA, by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ABER STATIONS: STATIO TERTIA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The stream is very sweet
Last Line: That sent a shiver to my heart.
Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, T. E.
Subject(s): Death - Children; Death - Babies


The stream is very sweet
To-day . . . Just see the swallow dart!
How fleet!
It sent a shiver to my heart.
If he had lived, you say --
Well, well -- if he had lived, what then?
Some men
Will always argue -- yes, I know . . . of course . . .
The argument has force.
If he had lived, he might have changed --
From bad to worse?
Nay, my shrewd balance-setter,
Why not from good to better?
Why not to best? to joy
And splendour? O, my boy!
I did not want this argument in the least,
My soul had ceased
From doubt and questioning --
That swallow's wing!
What a transcendent rush!
Hush! hush!
Or, if you talk, talk low:
For . . . do you know . . .
Just as the swallow dipt,
I felt as if a soft hand slipt
Its fingers into mine . . . he's near . . .
He's with us . . . 'tis not right the child should hear
This jangling . . . low then, low!
Or this is better . . . go,
Go, darling; play upon the bank,
And prank
Your hair with daisy and with buttercup,
And we will meet you higher up.
Now then . . . If he had lived? if my sweet son
Had lived? . . . You stare . . .
There! there!
'Tis gone, 'tis gone --
It was the swallow's dart
That sent a shiver to my heart.





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