Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A BALLAD OF ANTIQUARIES, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A BALLAD OF ANTIQUARIES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The days decay as flowers of grass
Last Line: We are the gleaners after time.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Time


THE days decay as flowers of grass,
The years as silent waters flow;
All things that are depart, alas!
As leaves the winnowing breezes strow;
And still while yet, full-orbed and slow,
New suns the old horizon climb,
Old Time must reap, as others sow:
We are the gleaners after Time!

We garner all the things that pass,
We harbour all the winds may blow;
As misers we up-store, amass
All gifts the hurrying Fates bestow;
Old chronicles of feast and show,
Old waifs of by-gone rune and rhyme,
Old jests that made old banquets glow: --
We are the gleaners after Time!

We hoard old lore of lad and lass,
Old flowers that in old gardens grow,
Old records writ on tomb and brass,
Old spoils of arrow-head and bow,
Old wrecks of old worlds' overthrow,
Old relics of Earth's primal slime,
All drift that wanders to and fro: --
We are the gleaners after Time!

ENVOY.

FRIENDS, that we know not and we know!
We pray you, by this Christmas chime,
Help us to save the things that go:
We are the gleaners after Time.





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