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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE POSTILLION, by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU Poet's Biography First Line: Lovely was the night in may Last Line: In my cars was sounding. Alternate Author Name(s): Lenau, Nikolaus | |||
Lovely was the night in May, Silver clouds were sailing High above the spring array, Through the heavens trailing. Field and forest lay and slept, Every path was lonely; On the streets the watch was kept By the moonshine only. But the breeze was whispering, Ever mildly sweeping, Where the children of the spring All lay calmly sleeping. Gently crept the little brook; Dreams of flowers blooming Spread through every quiet nook, Joyously perfuming. My postillion was more rough, Snapped his horse-whip loudly; Over valley, hill and bluff Blew his bugle proudly. Hoofs of nimble horses four Beat in sprightly measure, Through the forest evermore Trotting on with pleasure. Wood and field were sweeping past, Scarcely seen--then banished; Like the flight of dreams, so fast Peaceful hamlets vanished! Girded round by joys of spring Lay a graveyard yonder, Wanderers admonishing There to halt and ponder. Gray against the mountainside, Ancient walls were leaning; Sadly stood the Crucified High, in silent meaning. On my rider's spirits gay Sadness fell, subduing, And be made the horses stay; Spoke, the Cross there viewing: "Horse and wheel must stop right here, Though it may be trying; Yonder is my comrade dear In the cool earth lying. "'Twas a fellow good and true-- Sir, it is a pity! No one like my comrade blew On the horn a ditty. "Here I always stop and blow Songs dear to the other Lying in the earth below-- Greetings from a brother!" To the churchyard songs of cheer He sent gaily swelling; These should reach the brother's car In his peaceful dwelling. Far the bugle's voice was borne, From the mountains ringing, And the dead postillion's born Seemed to join the singing. On we rode with slackened rein, Through the landscape bounding; Long the echo's glad refrain In my cars was sounding. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY HEART by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU SEDGE SONGS: 1 by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU SEDGE SONGS: 2 by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU SEDGE SONGS: 3 by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU SONGS BY THE LAKE: 1 by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU SONGS BY THE LAKE: 4 by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU SONGS BY THE LAKE: 5 by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU THE POSTILION by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU THE THREE GIPSIES by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU TO HIS ABSENT MISTRESS by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU TO THE BELOVED FROM AFAR by NIKOLAUS FRANZ NIEMBSCH VON STREGLENAU |
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