Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHRISTENING, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Whose child is this they bring Last Line: Yea: sweet love's sepulchring!' Subject(s): Baptism; Christenings | ||||||||
WHOSE child is this they bring Into the aisle? - At so superb a thing The congregation smile And turn their heads awhile. Its eyes are blue and bright, Its cheeks like rose; Its simple robes unite Whitest of calicoes With lawn, and satin bows. A pride in the human race At this paragon Of mortals, lights each face While the old rite goes on; But ah, they are shocked anon. What girl is she who peeps From the gallery stair, Smiles palely, redly weeps, With feverish furtive air As though not fitly there? 'I am the baby's mother; This gem of the race The decent fain would smother, And for my deep disgrace I am bidden to leave the place.' 'Where is the baby's father?' - 'In the woods afar. He says there is none he'd rather Meet under moon or star Than me, of all that are. 'To clasp me in lovelike weather, Wish fixing when, He says: To be together At will, just now and then, Makes him the blest of men; 'But chained and doomed for life To slovening As vulgar man and wife, He says, is another thing: Yea: sweet Love's sepulchring!' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PERAMBULATOR POEM by DAVID MCCORD ANNIVERS: BAPTISMI by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ANNIVERS: BAPTISMT by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ANNIVERSARIUM BAPTISMI (1) by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ANNIVERSARIUM BAPTISMI (2) by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ANNIVERSARIUM BAPTISMI (3) by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ANNIVERSARIUM BAPTISMI (5) by JOSEPH BEAUMONT THE WATERS OF H. BAPTISME by JOSEPH BEAUMONT GOSPEL BANJO: HOMAGE TO LITTLE ROY LEWIS by DAVID BOTTOMS AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM' by THOMAS HARDY |
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