Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE NEW YEAR: TO MR. W.T., by CHARLES COTTON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Hark! The cock crows, and yon bright star Last Line: Till the next year she face about. Subject(s): Holidays; New Year | ||||||||
Hark! the Cock crows, and yon bright Star, Tells us the day himself's not far; And see where, breaking from the night, He gilds the Western hills with light. With him old Janus does appear, Peeping into the future Year With such a look as seems to say The prospect is not good that way. Thus do we rise ill sights to see, And 'gainst our selves to Prophesie, When the Prophetick fear of things A more tormenting mischief brings, More full of Soul-tormenting Gall Than direst mischiefs can befall. But stay! but stay! methinks my sight, Better inform'd by clearer light, Discerns sereneness in that brow, That all contracted seem'd but now: His reverse face may shew distast, And frown upon the ills are past; But that which this way looks is clear, And smiles upon the New-born year. He looks too from a place so high, The year lies open to his eye, And all the moments open are To the exact discoverer; Yet more and more he smiles upon The happy revolution. Why should we then suspect or fear The Influences of a year So smiles upon us the first morn, And speaks us good so soon as born? Pox on't! the last was ill enough, This cannot but make better proof; Or at the worst, as we brush'd through The last, why so we may this too; And then the next in reason shou'd Be superexcellently good: For the worst ills we daily see, Have no more perpetuity Than the best Fortunes that do fall; Which also bring us wherewithall Longer their being to support, Than those do of the other sort; And who has one good year in three, And yet repines at Destiny, Appears ingrateful in the case, And merits not the good he has. Then let us welcome the new guest, With lusty Brimmers of the best; Mirth always should good Fortune meet, And renders e'en disaster sweet: And though the Princess turn her back, Let us but line our selves with Sack, We better shall by far hold out, Till the next year she face about. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW YEAR'S POEM by MARGARET AVISON A SPEED OF HISTORY by MARGARET AVISON NEW YEAR'S DAY by DAVID LEHMAN LINES FOR THE NEW YEAR by JULIE CARR I AM RUNNING INTO A NEW YEAR by LUCILLE CLIFTON FOR THE NEW YEAR (2) by ROBERT CREELEY AN EPITAPH ON M.H. by CHARLES COTTON LAURA SLEEPING; ODE by CHARLES COTTON RESOLUTION OF A POETICAL QUESTION CONCERNING FOUR RURAL SISTERS: 2 by CHARLES COTTON |
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