Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A PEAL OF BELLS, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Strike the bells wantonly Last Line: His death is full, and mine begun. Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Subject(s): Bells; Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
STRIKE the bells wantonly, Tinkle tinkle well; Bring me wine, bring me flowers, Ring the silver bell. All my lamps burn scented oil, Hung on laden orange-trees, Whose shadowed foliage is the foil To golden lamps and oranges. Heap my golden plates with fruit, Golden fruit, fresh-plucked and ripe; Strike the bells and breathe the pipe; Shut out showers from summer hours -- Silence that complaining lute -- Shut out thinking, shut out pain, From hours that cannot come again. Strike the bells solemnly, Ding dong deep: My friend is passing to his bed, Fast asleep; There's plaited linen round his head, While foremost go his feet -- His feet that cannot carry him. My feast's a show, my lights are dim; Be still, your music is not sweet, -- There is no music more for him. His lights are out, his feast is done: His bowl that sparkled to the brim Is drained, is broken, cannot hold; My blood is chill, his blood is cold; His death is full, and mine begun. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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