Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ONE AFTERNOON, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ONE AFTERNOON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Below, cool grasses: over us
Last Line: Who look on us from heaven to-day.
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Afternoon; Hearts; Nature


BELOW, cool grasses: over us
The maples waver tremulous.

A slender overture above,
Low breathing as a sigh of love

At first, then gradually strong
And stronger: 'tis the locust's song,

Swoln midway to a paean of glee,
And lost in silence dwindlingly.

Not utter silence; nay, for hid
In ghosts of it, the katydid

Chirrs a diluted echo of
The loveless song he makes us love.

The low boughs are drugged heavily
With shade; the poem you read to me

Is not more gracious than the trill
Of birds that twitter as they will.

Half consciously, with upturned eyes,
I hear your voice -- I see the skies,

Where, o'er bright rifts, the swallows glance
Like glad thoughts o'er a countenance;

And voices near and far are blent
Like sweet chords of some instrument

Awakened by the trembling touch
Of hands that love it overmuch.

Dear heart, let be the book a while!
I want your face -- I want your smile!

Tell me how gladder now are they
Who look on us from Heaven to-day.





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