Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SEPARATION OF FRIENDS, by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Do not their souls, who 'neath the altar wait Last Line: And all will soon be plain. Subject(s): Death; Froude, Richard Hurrell (1803-1836); Dead, The | ||||||||
Do not their souls, who 'neath the Altar wait Until their second birth, The gift of patience need, as separate From their first friends of earth? Not that earth's blessings are not all outshone By Eden's Angel flame, But that earth knows not yet, the Dead has won That crown, which was his aim. For when he left it, 'twas a twilight scene About his silent bier, A breathless struggle, faith and sight between, And Hope and sacred Fear. Fear startled at his pains and dreary end, Hope raised her chalice high, And the twin-sisters still his shade attend, View'd in the mourner's eye. So day by day for him from earth ascends, As steam in summer-even, The speechless intercession of his friends, Toward the azure heaven. Ah! dearest, with a word he could dispel All questioning, and raise Our hearts to rapture, whispering all was well And turning prayer to praise. And other secrets too he could declare, By patterns all divine, His earthly creed retouching here and there, And deepening every line. Dearest! he longs to speak, as I to know, And yet we both refrain: It were not good: a little doubt below, And all will soon be plain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND |
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