Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE NEW YEAR'S NIGHT OF AN UNHAPPY MAN, by JEAN PAUL RICHTER First Line: Once on a time, it was the new year's night Last Line: The golden years can never more return. Subject(s): Aging; Holidays; New Year; Old Age; Sin; Youth | ||||||||
Once on a time, it was the New Year's Night, An old man at his window stood and gazed Upon the myriad-eyed and changeless Heaven, And on the pure white earth whereon there sighed No human soul so hopeless as his own. In mute despair he gazed upon his grave! The snows of age and not the green of youth Shrouded its blackness: and that woeful man Out of his whole rich life now thither brought Nought but a load of follies, sins, and cares; A wasted frame, a desolated heart, And lone old age embittered with remorse. And now like ghosts the bright days of his youth Hovered about him: and he stood once more At Life's dread cross-road by his father's side. Its right-hand pathway led by sunny tracks Of virtue to a Paradise of peace Full of glad harvests and of glorious light; But the left strayed, through labyrinths of vice, Down to a dismal, poison-dropping cave, Where serpents darted mid the dark damp night. Ah! now those serpents writhed about his breast, Those poisoned droppings paralyzed his tongue, He learnt the error of his choicetoo late! Crushed by despair he sobbed aloud to Heaven "Give back my youth, O God! and oh! my Sire, Place me once more upon that branching road, That once again my pathway I may choose." In vainhis father and his youth were gone! He saw strange lights that danced above the marsh And died within the grave-yardand he sighed, "Those were my sinful days." He watched a star Shoot from the skies and glimmer to its fall To be extinguished on the gloomy earth; "That star is I," he groaned, and fell Remorse Gnawed at his wounds again with serpent-fangs. Suddenly, music for the new-born year Like distant church-song floated from a tower. His soul was stirredhe gazed around the earth And mused upon the playmates of his youth, Who, happier now and holier far than he, Were teachers of the world, world-honoured men, Fathers of loving childrenand he cried: "I too, my Sire, might now have happy been, Thy NEW YEAR'S bidding had I erst fulfilled!" He bowed his headhot, penitential tears Streamed on the snowagain he softly sighed, Hopeless, unconscious almost, "Come again! O my lost Youth, come back!" It came again For on that strange and solemn New Year's Night He had but dreamed. His youth was left him still His errors only had not been a dream. With grateful soul he poured his thanks to God, That he was spared still young to turn aside From Sin's foul ways and follow the fair track That leads the pilgrim to a land of peace. Turn then aside with him, thou wayward youth, Who standest doubting on the road of Life! This ghastly dream was pictured for thy sake. If e'er, grown old, in anguish thou shouldst cry, "Come back once more, O vanished Youth, come back!" The golden years can never more return. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BETWEEN THE WARS by ROBERT HASS THE GOLDEN SHOVEL by TERRANCE HAYES ALONG WITH YOUTH by ERNEST HEMINGWAY THE BLACK RIVIERA by MARK JARMAN THE NEW YEAR'S NIGHT OF A MISERABLE MAN by JEAN PAUL RICHTER |
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