Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT LONG LAST, by ADA CAMBRIDGE Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Late, late, the prize is drawn, the goal attained Last Line: Is never paid in vain. Alternate Author Name(s): Cross, George, Mrs. Subject(s): Human Behavior; Conduct Of Life; Human Nature | ||||||||
Late, late, the prize is drawn, the goal attained, The Heart's Desire fulfilled, Love's guerdon gained. Wealth's use is past, Fame's crown of laurel mocks The downward-drooping head and grizzled locks. The end is reached -- the end of toil and strife -- The end of life. Love flowers and fades like grass, and flowers again; The spendthrift lovers waste themselves in vain; Their fiery passions burn out one by one, And then, alas! when their best days are done, Spirit and body find their perfect mate -- So late! So late! Long-sought, long seeking, through the lonely years, The wanderers meet to weep their useless tears For time and chance irrevocably flown, Dear hopes outlived and happy faiths outgrown, Children unborn, the myriad joys unseen That might have been. Not for the spring and morning-time of youth The perfect flower of slow-unfolding truth, The perfect love, that dreams of youth foretell, But youth knows not and youth could never tell; That light celestial, as of sunset fires When day expires. Late comes the gift that crowns the hungry quest, Like ripe wheat-harvest in a land at rest, And comes alone, a consecrated cup, To those proved worthy to sit down and sup. To them -- aye, aye, despite their treasure lost, 'T'is worth the cost. 'T'is worth the cost to reach the heights at last, Ere eyes are dim and daylight overpast. To see one aim achieved, one dream fulfilled, Ere striving brain and trusting heart are stilled. To live one glorious hour -- its price of pain Is never paid in vain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ONE WHO WAS DIFFERENT by RANDALL JARRELL END OF THE WORLD by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE ANSWER by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE BROKEN BALANCE by ROBINSON JEFFERS TIME OF DISTURBANCE by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE UNCHANGEABLE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV |
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