Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FAREWELL TO AN ANCIENT CHURCH, by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Farewell, thou consecrated dome Last Line: Dear, venerated dome, farewell! Subject(s): Churches; Cathedrals | ||||||||
FAREWELL, thou consecrated dome, Whence prayer and chant and anthem rose, Whose walls have given meek Hope a home, And tearful Penitence, repose. Here gathered round their shepherd-guide, A flock, to the Redeemer dear, While praise in full, responsive tide, Soared heavenward, to its native sphere. Here at this altar's hallowed side, Oft was the bond of deathless love Sealed by the kneeling, trembling bride -- Where is that bride? Perchance above. The mother here her infant drew, Unscathed by sin or sorrow's rod, To win the pure, baptismal dew -- Where is that mother? Ask of God. And duly here has childhood's train Bowed to Instruction's mildest sway: But were those ceaseless lessons vain? The page of doom alone can say. Here many a brow in beauty's prime Hath faded, like the rose-tinged cloud, And many a head grown white with time, That towered in manhood's glory proud. Oh! if from you celestial place, Bright bands regard a world like this, Here many a sainted soul may trace The birth-place of its boundless bliss. With tenderest recollections fraught, How do these parting moments swell! Thou ancient nurse of holy thought, Dear, venerated dome, farewell! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VIRGIN IN GLASS by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF: 3. FEEDING THE RABBITS by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR EXPLICATION OF AN IMAGINARY TEXT by JAMES GALVIN DOMESDAY BOOK: FATHER WHIMSETT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS HALF-AND-HALF by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE AT THE CHURCH DOOR by GEORGE SANTAYANA COLUMBUS [JANUARY, 1487] by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY |
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