|
|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VIA DOLOROSA: 2. DELIVERANCE, by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: O death, fair death, sole comforter and sweet
Last Line: Denied him: darkness hath unsealed his eyes.'
Subject(s): Death; Flowers; Night; Roses; Dead, The; Bedtime
First Line: O death, fair death, sole comforter and sweet
Last Line: Denied him: darkness hath unsealed his eyes.'
Subject(s): Death; Flowers; Night; Roses; Dead, The; Bedtime
O DEATH, fair Death, sole comforter and sweet,
Nor Love nor Hope can give such gifts as thine.
Sleep hardly shows us round thy shadowy shrine
What roses hang, what music floats, what feet
Pass and what wings of angels. We repeat
Wild words or mild, disastrous or divine,
Blind prayer, blind imprecation, seeing no sign
Nor hearing aught of thee not faint and fleet
As words of men or snowflakes on the wind.
But if we chide thee, saying 'Thou hast sinned, thou hast sinned,
Dark Death, to take so sweet a light away
As shone but late, though shadowed, in our skies,'
We hear thine answer -- 'Night has given what day
Denied him: darkness hath unsealed his eyes.'
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 BALLAD OF DEATH by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE