Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SUMMER'S FAREWELL, by ELIZA COOK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SUMMER'S FAREWELL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: What sound is that? 'tis the summer's farewell
Last Line: May there be ere the summer sun next shall beam.
Subject(s): Summer


What sound is that? 'Tis the Summer's farewell
In the breath of the night wind sighing;
The chill breeze comes, like a sorrowful dirge
That wails o'er the dead and the dying.
The sapless leaves are eddying round,
On the path that they lately shaded;
The oak of the forest is losing its robe;
The flowers have fallen and faded.
All that I look on but saddens my heart,
To think that the lovely so soon should depart.

Yet why should I sigh? Other summers will come,
Joys like the past one bringing;
Again will the vine bear its blushing fruit;
Again will the birds be singing;
The forest will put forth its "honours" again;
The rose be as sweet in its breathing;
The woodbine will climb round the lattice pane,
As wild and as rich in its wreathing.
The hives will have honey, bees will hum,
Other flowers will spring, other summers will come!

They will, they will; but an! who can tell
Whether I may live on till their coming?
This spirit may sleep too soundly then
To wake with the warbling or humming.
This cheek, now pale, may be paler far,
When the summer sun next is glowing;
The cherishing rays may gild with light
The grass on my grave-turf growing:
The earth may be glad, but worms and gloom
May dwell with me in the silent tomb!

And few would weep, in this beautiful world,
For the fameless one who had left it:
Few would remember the form cut off,
And mourn the stroke that cleft it;
Many might keep my name on their lip,
Pleased while that name degrading;
My follies and sins alone would live, --
A theme for their cold upbraiding.
Oh! what a change in my spirit's dream
May there be ere the summer sun next shall beam.





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