Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE OLD, OLD WISH, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Last night, in some lost mood of Last Line: "when will my wish come true?" Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Night; Stars; Vision; Wishes; Bedtime | ||||||||
LAST night, in some lost mood of meditation, The while my dreamy vision ranged the far Unfathomable arches of creation, I saw a falling star: And as my eyes swept round the path it embered With the swift-dying glory of its glow, With sudden intuition I remembered A wish of long ago -- A wish that, were it made -- so ran the fancy Of credulous young lover and of lass -- As fell a star, by some strange necromancy, Would surely come to pass. And, of itself, the wish, reiterated A thousand times in youth, flashed o'er my brain, And, like the star, as soon obliterated, Dropped into night again. For my old heart had wished for the unending Devotion of a little maid of nine -- And that the girl-heart, with the woman's blending, Might be forever mine. And so it was, with eyelids raised, and weighty With ripest clusterings of sorrow's dew, I cried aloud through Heaven: "O little Katie! When will my wish come true?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREATH OF NIGHT by RANDALL JARRELL HOODED NIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS WORKING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT by DENIS JOHNSON POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN COOL DARK ODE by DONALD JUSTICE POEM TO BE READ AT 3 A.M by DONALD JUSTICE ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT by BOB KAUFMAN A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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