Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PRAYER FOR LIFE, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: O sunshine and fair earth! Last Line: Leave me, oh! Leave me unto home and hearth! Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Life; Prayer | ||||||||
O SUNSHINE and fair earth! Sweet is your kindly mirth; Angel of death! yet, yet awhile delay! Too sad it is to part, Thus in my spring of heart, With all the light and laughter of the day. For me the falling leaf Touches no chord of grief, No dark void in the rose's bosom lies: Not one triumphal tone, One hue of hope, is gone From song or bloom beneath the summer skies. Death, Death! ere yet decay, Call me not hence away! Over the golden hours no shade is thrown; The poesy that dwells Deep in green woods and dells Still to my spirit speaks of joy alone. Yet not for this, O Death! Not for the vernal breath Of winds that shake forth music from the trees: Not for the splendour given To night's dark, regal heaven, Spoiler. I ask thee not reprieve for these. But for the happy love Whose light, where'er I rove, Kindles all nature to a sudden smile, Shedding on branch and flower A rainbow-tinted shower Of richer life -- spare, spare me yet awhile. Too soon, too fast thou'rt come! Too beautiful is home -- A home of gentle voices and kind eyes! And I the loved of all, On whom fond blessings fall From every lip. Oh! wilt thou rend such ties? Sweet sisters! weave a chain My spirit to detain: Hold me to earth with strong affection back; Bind me with mighty love Unto the stream, the grove, Our daily paths -- our life's familiar track. Stay with me! gird me round! Your voices bear a sound Of hope -- a light comes with you and departs; Hush my soul's boding swell, That murmurs of farewell. How can I leave this ring of kindest hearts? Death! grave! -- and are there those That woo your dark repose Midst the rich beauty of the glowing earth? Surely about them lies No world of loving eyes. Leave me, oh! leave me unto home and hearth! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN LISTEN, LORD: A PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE PRAYER DURING A TIME MY SON IS HAVING SEIZURES by SHARON OLDS WE WHO PRAYED AND WEPT by WENDELL BERRY PRAYERS AND SAYINGS OF THE MAD FARMER by WENDELL BERRY A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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