Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OCTOBER: 1859, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: Again, again, and yet again Last Line: Even in the shadows of the tomb. Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Death; October; Dead, The | ||||||||
AGAIN, again, and yet again, I have sung of thee, October! Ah! not in joyous, jocund strain Grave the lay, subdued, and sober The waning life, and waning year, Gravely, calmly, sympathizing; The thin grey locks, and woodlands sere, Mutely, fitly, harmonizing. Young budding April, blooming May, Flowery June, and July glowing, Each in their turn a tribute lay, August in thy lap o'erflowing. See September's tresses yellow, Waving o'er her teeming bosom, Crown'd with fruitage rich and mellow, Born of many a summer blossom. October breathing on the bowers, Through the yellow woods is stealing; 'Mid falling leaves and faded flowers, Nature's dying form revealing. No cooing dove, no warbler gay, Is singing in the branches now; Yet soft the chasten'd sunbeams play, October, on thy placid brow. I walk abroad, a holy calm Breathes in the atmosphere around; A sweetly sad, yet soothing balm, A deep repose, a peace profound. October! wanes my life like thine, Gone youthful summer's fervid glow; Buds, leaves, and flowers, that erst were mine, Are wither'd, sere, and fallen low. Pale nature, chill'd by cold decay, Lies fainting in the arms of death; While I repeat as on I stray, How fleeting, fading, all beneath! From earth to heaven I raise my eyes, And see a soften'd glory spread In mildest radiance o'er the skies, More swift than summer's suns have shed. God of my life, when life shall fail, When dark the windows of my soul, All things of earth decayed and stale, And death's dark waters near me roll. Oh, when I walk through death's dark vale, Father of lights! my path illume With light divine that will not pale, Even in the shadows of the tomb. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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