Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ANNIE: MY CHILD LOVER, by JOHN LAURENCE RENTOUL Poet's Biography First Line: Let me gently climb the stair Last Line: And god speak not a word to chide. Alternate Author Name(s): Gage, Gervais Subject(s): Children - Lost; Girls; Rest; Silence; Sleep | ||||||||
I LET me gently climb the stair, And look in on the sleeper there! She is very still to-day That was erst so blithe and gay. Heart so light and face so fair, How is the laughter fled away! There is no sound or stir of play. II I have seen her romping so Round this room with face aglow: It seems scarce an hour ago. Music sweet did trilling come From those lips too mutely dumb. Is she plotting mischief deep, Deep and sly? Or is this the silent sleep, That close closing of the eye Over which poor Eve did weep, In a mother's woe, When her Abel mute did lie, Long ago, And a man had learned to die? III I have called her, "Annie, come!" As in days agone; But from out her lips too dumb Breaks not any tone. Such wonders God has made her see She does not care to answer me, Although she loveth tenderly? Such new delights her heart surprise The old seem common in her eyes? Is it so? Or why not speak one word, albeit faint and low? She does not care to rise and play In this lower room; She will not answer me to-day Though I urge her, "Come!" IV O, the little tired heart Not again shall leap or start In mortal pain: Not again! And the little feet no more Shall come tired to the door! And the hail no more shall beat On her face adown the street, Nor the rain: Not again! Very peaceful, very fair Lies the little sleeper there! V O, the breath of violet! Tears must spring, I know not why. Look, the bunch her own hand set In that vase the rose hard by! They too droop and haste to die, No more glad for company And bright in the glance of her bright eye. Look, the lilies lie at rest, Rise not, fall not, on her breast: Nay, the breast itself is still, And the rose-red lips all pale and chill! VI Why dost whisper, why dost creep Round her stilly, why dost weep That she wakes not? O, this sleep Of this sleeper, friends, is deep! VII Sleeper, sleep! Speech thy lips forsaking. God shuts out the garish light Of Earth's transient sun, All the windows closing For thy calm reposing, And the day is done. God shall wake thee pure and strong, O, sleep soundly, night is long: But, when dawn is breaking, O, the strange sweet morning song And the wondrous waking! VIII Sleeper, sleep! All thy being full of rest, All thy thinkings unexprest, Calm in all thy brain and breast, Sleeper, sleep! IX But, O Annie, we alone, Just we two, and none beside, When the great gates toward the throne, Where you'll meet me, open wide, O, we two will turn aside By the river of Life where the trees can hide, And talk and gaze till eventide, And see naught else till eventide, Though the streets in their glory lie full wide. The Angels will smile all satisfied With Love by death indemnified, And God speak not a word to chide. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOU'S SWEET TO YO' MAMMY JES DE SAME by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 3 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 22 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 34 by JAMES JOYCE GOING TO SLEEP by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN THE BLUE NAP by WILLIAM MATTHEWS A MEMORY by JOHN LAURENCE RENTOUL A MITHER'S CRY (WRITTEN ON A SISTER'S GRAVE) by JOHN LAURENCE RENTOUL |
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