Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A LAMENT, by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY Poet's Biography First Line: The dream is over / the vision has flown Last Line: But grief alone! Alternate Author Name(s): Maccarthy, Denis Florence | ||||||||
THE dream is over, The vision has flown, Dead leaves are lying Where roses have blown; Wither'd and strown Are the hopes I cherished, -- All hath perished But grief alone. My heart was a garden Where fresh leaves grew; Flowers there were many, And weeds a few; Cold winds blew, And the frosts came thither, For flowers will wither, And weeds renew! Youth's bright palace Is overthrown, With its diamond sceptre And golden throne; As a time-worn stone Its turrets are humbled, -- All hath crumbled But grief alone! Whither, oh! whither Have fled away The dreams and hopes Of my early day? Ruined and grey Are the towers I builded; And the beams that gilded -- Ah! where are they? Once this world Was fresh and bright, With its golden noon And its starry night; Glad and light, By mountain and river, Have I bless'd the Giver With hushed delight. These were the days Of story and song, When Hope had a meaning And Faith was strong. 'Life will be long, And lit with love's gleamings:' Such were my dreamings, But, ah! how wrong. Youth's illusions, One by one, Have passed like clouds That the sun looked on. While morning shone, How purple their fringes! How ashy their tinges When that was gone! Darkness that cometh Ere morn has fled -- Boughs that wither Ere fruits are shed -- Death bells instead Of a bridal's pealings -- Such are my feelings, Since Hope is dead! Sad is the knowledge That cometh with years -- Bitter the tree That is watered with tears; Truth appears, With his wise predictions, Then vanish the fictions Of boyhood's years. As fire-flies fade When the nights are damp -- As meteors are quenched In a stagnant swamp -- Thus Charlemagne's camp, Where the Paladins rally, And the Diamond Valley, And the Wonderful Lamp, And all the wonders Of Ganges and Nile, And Haroun's rambles, And Crusoe's isle, And Princes who smile On the Genii's daughters 'Neath the Orient's waters Full many a mile, And all that the pen Of Fancy can write, Must vanish In manhood's misty light -- Squire and knight, And damosel's glances, Sunny romances So pure and bright! These have vanished, And what remains? Life's budding garlands Have turned to chains -- Its beams and rains Feed but docks and thistles, And sorrow whistles O'er desert plains! The dove will fly From a ruined nest -- Love will not dwell In a troubled breast -- The heart has no zest To sweeten life's dolour -- If Love, the Consoler, Be not its guest! The dream is over, The vision has flown; Dead leaves are lying Where roses have blown; Wither'd and strown Are the hopes I cherished, -- All hath perished But grief alone! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SUMMER LONGINGS by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY LOVE AND TIME by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY OVER THE SEA by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY SPRING FLOWERS FROM IRELAND by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY THE CLAN OF MACCAURA by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY THE DEAD TRIBUNE by DENIS FLORENCE MCCARTHY TRIFLE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON HEAVEN-HAVEN; A NUN TAKES THE VEIL by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE MAN CHRIST by THERESE (KARPER) LINDSEY ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER by JOHN MILTON |
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