Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OLD CASEMENTS; A SONNET CYCLE, by WINIFRED DAVIDSON First Line: We know old homes on lomea, weathered ... Gray Last Line: From our forsaken casements . . . Weathered, gray. Subject(s): Castles | ||||||||
I We knew old homes on Loma, weathered . . . gray: Poor bleak board-shacks that matched the silvered rue, Climbing thin trails of mountain sage. We knew One mossed low cabin on the crest, away Above ships' sailing paths, above the bay; Where life withdrew small casements to kissed blue, Where youth and love life's last white veils withdrew; And there were we -- householders for a day. Sky cottage -- passing shelter! I had tears Those drudging morns, those young and weary nights; And oft was bitter in my thoughts the years I put its little crowded rooms to rights. As dream-sweet as the hill it overpeers -- That empty house which now west sun-fire smites. II An empty house -- where once high westering lights Burned to the sea; like dim small stars turned towards Vast blazing skies. Within gray redwood boards A shining shrine . . . Flame-hollowed chrysolites Those births, deaths, hungers, and those strange young frights Of love in poverty. Now memory hoards Its fragrant poured-out chrisms of the Lord's That fed pure fire to mystic curtained rites. With lamps adrift in time, on time's vast flow Of love, we faced the measureless, the deep Abysmal night. Youth's wick burned out. We know Such heart-warmed casements no earth hearts could keep. * * * * * Sails in the bay beat southward; but how slow Are we to give our buoyant hopes to sleep. III At last we give our drooping heads to sleep, At last the brightest window frame stares blank: Lights out, like ships that dipped just now and sank Down empty, unknown seas. Shall we two weep Now that our oil is low and ashes heap Our parquetry floors; now that dead cinders clank About our feet? Bright windows! Life, we thank Thee for bright windows, who are come to leap Beyond our house into star paths alone; Are come to end that which we had to say. Faint requiems high Loma winds intone For our lost ships, lost loves . . . hearts . . . homes; and they Will sing us forth. See! Tattered curtains blown From our forsaken casements . . . weathered, gray. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS THE ROCK OF CASHEL by AUBREY DE VERE THE HAUNTED PALACE by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE CASTLE BY THE SEA by JOHANN LUDWIG UHLAND ODE TO LUDLOW CASTLE by LUCY AIKEN ON SEEING BLENHEIM CASTLE by LUCY AIKEN AN OLD CASTLE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE CASTLE RUINS by WILLIAM BARNES MY HIDING PLACE AND ME by BARBARA BROOKS BIXLEY APRIL AFTERNOON, POINT LOMA (1769) by WINIFRED DAVIDSON |
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