Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A FRIEND, by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: All that he came to give Last Line: His praise, bring all I have to bring. Subject(s): Friendship | ||||||||
ALL, that he came to give, He gave, and went again: I have seen one man live, I have seen one man reign, With all the graces in his train. As one of us, he wrought Things of the common hour: Whence was the charmed soul brought, That gave each act such power; The natural beauty of a flower? Magnificence and grace, Excellent courtesy: A brightness on the face, Airs of high memory: Whence came all these, to such as he? Like young Shakespearian kings, He won the adoring throng: And, as Apollo sings, He triumphed with a song: Triumphed, and sang, and passed along. With a light word, he took The hearts of men in thrall: And, with a golden look, Welcomed them, at his call Giving their love, their strength, their all. No man less proud than he, Nor cared for homage less: Only, he could not be Far off from happiness: Nature was bound to his success. Weary, the cares, the jars, The lets, of every day, But the heavens filled with stars, Chanced he upon the way: And where he stayed, all joy would stay. Now, when sad night draws down, When the austere stars burn: Roaming the vast live town, My thoughts and memories yearn Toward him, who never will return. Yet have I seen him live, And owned my friend, a king: All that he came to give He gave: and I, who sing His praise, bring all I have to bring. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOU & I BELONG IN THIS KITCHEN by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA JASON THE REAL by TONY HOAGLAND NO RESURRECTION by ROBINSON JEFFERS CHAMBER MUSIC: 17 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 18 by JAMES JOYCE THE STONE TABLE by GALWAY KINNELL ALMSWOMAN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN TO AN ENEMY by MAXWELL BODENHEIM SONNET: 10. TO A FRIEND by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES BY THE STATUE OF KING CHARLES AT CHARING CROSS by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON THE CHURCH OF A DREAM; TO BERNHARD BERENSON by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON |
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