Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UPON NEW YEAR'S EVE, by ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UPON NEW YEAR'S EVE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now winds of winter glue
Last Line: Sit unafraid.
Alternate Author Name(s): Q; Quiller-couch, A. T.
Subject(s): Holidays; Marriage; New Year; Spring; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


NOW winds of winter glue
Their tears upon the thorn,
And earth has voices few,
And those forlorn.

And 'tis our solemn night
When maidens sand the porch,
And play at Jack's Alight
With burning torch,

Or cards, or Kiss i' the Ring—
While ashen fagots blaze,
And late wassailers sing
In miry ways.

Then, dear my wife, be blithe
To bid the New Year hail,
And welcome—plough, drill, scythe,
And jolly flail.

For though the snows he'll shake
Of winter from his head,
To settle, flake by flake,
On ours instead;

Yet we be wreathèd green
Beyond his blight or chill,
Who kissed at seventeen,
And worship still.

We know not what he'll bring:
But this we know to-night—
He doth prepare the Spring
For our delight.

With birds he'll comfort us,
With blossoms, balms, and bees,
With brooks, and odorous
Wild breath o' the breeze.

Come then, O festal prime!
With sweets thy bosom fill,
And dance it, dripping thyme,
On Lantick hill.

West wind, awake! and comb
Our garden, blade from blade—
We, in our little home,
Sit unafraid.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net