Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MARGRAVE'S BIRTHNIGHT, by HERMAN MELVILLE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Up from many a sheeted valley Last Line: Black bread into white. Subject(s): Christmas; Nativity, The | ||||||||
Up from many a sheeted valley, From white woods as well, Down too from each fleecy upland Jingles many a bell Jovial on the work-sad horses Hitched to runners old Of the toil-worn peasants sledging Under sheepskins in the cold; Till from every quarter gathered Meet they on one ledge, There from hoods they brush the snow off Lighting from each sledge Full before the Margrave's castle, Summoned there to cheer On his birth-night, in mid-winter, Kept year after year. O the hall, and O the holly! Tables line each wall; Guests as holly-berries plenty, But -- no host withal! May his people feast contented While at head of board Empty throne and vacant cover Speak the absent lord? Minstrels enter. And the stewards Serve the guests; and when, Passing there the vacant cover, Functionally then Old observance grave they offer; But no Margrave fair, In his living aspect gracious, Sits responsive there; No, and never guest once marvels, None the good lord name, Scarce they mark void throne and cover -- Dust upon the same. Mindless as to what importeth Absence such in hall; Tacit as the plough-horse feeding In the palfrey's stall. Ah, enough for toil and travail, If but for a night Into wine is turned the water, Black bread into white. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DIFFERENT VIEWS; A CHRISMAS DUET by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY AN UNMERRY CHRISTMAS by AMBROSE BIERCE CHRISTMAS IN CHINATOWN by AUGUST KLEINZAHLER CHRISTMAS TREE by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ISAIAH'S COAL by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#3): 1. BEAST, PEACH.. by MARVIN BELL FORMERLY A SLAVE' (AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT, BY E. VEDDER) by HERMAN MELVILLE THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE |
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