Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FLUTE-PLAYER, by JOHN COWPER POWYS Poet's Biography First Line: Once I saw her. 'twas long ago Last Line: With a different sound must fall! Subject(s): Autumn; Flowers; Flutes; Love; Rain; Roses; Seasons; Fall | ||||||||
Once I saw her. 'Twas long ago; From the bridge of a dream-city. Drops of rain were falling slow. It was autumn and long ago; And somewhere in the fields below A flute-player played this ditty -- One look and never the same again Are the roses on the wall; One look and forever the midnight rain With a different sound must fall. Gables and gardens, roofs and towers, Hung vague and rich and dim. From somewhere there came a scent of flowers, And a wind from the world's rim; And the sun sank red behind the towers, And she stood and looked at him. She looked at him from a closed window, Then at me did she look down. It was autumn and very long ago, And drops of rain kept falling slow And a flute-player played on his flute below, From the fields below the town. And now they have told me so constantly That the place was a city of dreams, That my reason believes it; but in my heart, In my heart most real it seems! And thro' town and country I still must go The shadowy roads along, Seeing always that closed window And hearing that flute-player's song. And when the sun most rich and dim Sinks down behind dark towers, And there comes a wind from the world's rim And from somewhere a scent of flowers -- I stand again on the bridge of that city And hear that flute-player; And my Love looks down on me in pity, And I look back at her. -- One look and never the same again Are the roses on the wall; One look and forever the midnight rain With a different sound must fall! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OUR AUTUMN by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN AN AUTUMN JOY by GEORGE ARNOLD A LEAF FALLS by MARION LOUISE BLISS THE FARMER'S BOY: AUTUMN by ROBERT BLOOMFIELD A LETTER IN OCTOBER by TED KOOSER AUTUMN EVENING by DAVID LEHMAN EVERYTHING THAT ACTS IS ACTUAL by DENISE LEVERTOV |
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