Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OBLIVION (TO ALAN PORTER), by WILLIAM FORCE STEAD Poet's Biography First Line: As if the dead had sought to reach Last Line: Nay, tell me, -- were they ever born? | ||||||||
AS if the dead had sought to reach Us through the names they used to know, They carved these rain-bleared stones to teach What men were they, laid here a-row: But now hath time twice marred their speech, The stones are dumb as they below. Yet I surmise they rose at break Of dawn, and trudged afield, and then Laboured with ox and ass to take Bread for the hungry world of men, Sweating at plough and spade and rake Till dusk, for three-score years and ten. Ever they rose at brink of day, Yet drank they once the joy of morn? -- Life from them turned its mind away, They were not even thought forlorn: Falstaff can never die, -- but they, Nay, tell me, -- were they ever born? | Other Poems of Interest...THE MAGIC WAY by WILLIAM FORCE STEAD FORGIVENESS by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES FIELD AMBULANCE IN RETREAT; VIA DOLOROSA, VIA SACRA by MAY SINCLAIR THE EGYPTIAN PRINCESS by EDWIN ARNOLD LADY OF MYSTERY by G. W. BLOEMENDAL THE BURIAL OF ROBERT BROWNING by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY |
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