Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THERE'S A TIME TO BE JOLLY, by CHARLES GODFREY LELAND Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: There's a time to be jolly, a time to repent Last Line: It was best, after all, to have flirted with both. Alternate Author Name(s): Breitmann, Hans Subject(s): Grief; Happiness; Love; Sorrow; Sadness; Joy; Delight | ||||||||
THERE'S a time to be jolly, a time to repent, A season for folly, a season for Lent, The first as the worst we too often regard; The rest as the best, but our judgment is hard. There are snows in December and Roses in June, There's darkness at midnight and sunshine at noon; But, were there no sorrow, no storm-cloud or rain, Who'd care for the morrow with beauty again. The world is a picture both gloomy and bright, And grief is the shadow and pleasure the light, And neither should smother the general tone: For where were the other if either were gone? The valley is lovely; the mountain is drear, Its summit is hidden in mist all the year; But gaze from the heaven, high over all weather, And mountain and valley are lovely together. I have learned to love Lucy, though faded she be; If my next love be lovely, the better for me. By the end of next summer, I'll give you my oath, It was best, after all, to have flirted with both. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STUDY OF HAPPINESS by KENNETH KOCH SO MUCH HAPPINESS by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE CROWD CONDITIONS by JOHN ASHBERY I WILL NOT BE CLAIMED by MARVIN BELL THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#21): 1. ABOUT THE DEAD MAN'S HAPPINESS by MARVIN BELL A BALLAD OF CHARITY by CHARLES GODFREY LELAND |
|