Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OLD CASTLE, by JOHN FULLERTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OLD CASTLE, by                    
First Line: Shelter'd 'mong the dark fir trees
Last Line: Save the fretting tide.
Subject(s): Castles


SHELTER'D 'mong the dark fir trees,
Stands a castle old and grey;
Through its roofless rooms the breeze
Wanders night and day.
Ivy climbs across its walls,
Shells of what they once had been;
And in all the mighty halls
Grass is growing green.

With a throbbing heart I tread
Silent chambers where years gone
Sire and matron, youth and maid,
Pass'd the night with song --
Song of love or fairy tale,
Told or sung with bosoms light,
As the evening shadows fell,
Deepen'd into night.

Here the warriors, brave and bold,
Hung their swords and shields to rest;
Here the friars, young or old,
Quaff'd of wines the best;
Here the merry and the gay
Danced till morning streak'd the east;
Here was spread by night and day
Aye the lordly feast.

All are gone -- the grey-hair'd sire,
Matron, youth, and maiden fair,
Wandering minstrel-bard whose lyre
Thrill'd the brave hearts there;
All are gone -- their graves are near --
Grass o'ergrown on every side --
And nor sound nor voice I hear,
Save the fretting tide.





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