Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE NEW MOON, by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When, as the garish day is gone Last Line: Like that new light in heaven. Subject(s): Moon | ||||||||
WHEN, as the garish day is done, Heaven burns with the descended sun, 'Tis passing sweet to mark, Amid that flush of crimson light, The new moon's modest bow grow bright, As earth and sky grow dark. Few are the hearts too cold to feel A thrill of gladness o'er them steal, When first the wandering eye Sees faintly, in the evening blaze, That glimmering curve of tender rays Just planted in the sky. The sight of that young crescent brings Thoughts of all fair and youthful things -- The hopes of early years; And childhood's purity and grace, And joys that like a rainbow chase The passing shower of tears. The captive yields him to the dream Of freedom, when that virgin beam Comes out upon the air; And painfully the sick man tries To fix his dim and burning eyes On the soft promise there. Most welcome to the lover's sight, Glitters that pure, emerging light; For prattling poets say, That sweetest is the lovers' walk, And tenderest is their murmured talk, Beneath its gentle ray. And there do graver men behold A type of errors, loved of old, Forsaken and forgiven; And thoughts and wishes not of earth, Just opening in their early birth, Like that new light in heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN THE MOON AND THE SPECTATOR by LEONIE ADAMS FULL MOON by KARLE WILSON BAKER NO MORE OF THE MOON by MORRIS GILBERT BISHOP THE DEPARTURE by DENISE LEVERTOV THE MOON IN GREECE by TIMOTHY LIU A FOREST HYMN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT |
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