Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BROTHER WHERE DOST THOU DWELL?, by HENRY DAVID THOREAU


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BROTHER WHERE DOST THOU DWELL?, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
Last Line: Or else forgot
Subject(s): Absence


But now '' no war nor battle's sound''
Invades this peaceful battleground
But waves of Concord murmuring by
flowing with gentle harmony.
5
Yet since we sailed, some things have failed
And many a dream gone down the stream
Here then an aged shepherd dwellt
Who to his flock his substance dealt
And ruled them with a vigorous crook
10
According to the sacred Book.
But he the pierless bridge passed o'er
And solitary left the shore
Anon a youthful pastor came
Whose crook was not unknown to fame
15
His lambs he viewed with gentle glance
Spread oer the country's wide expanse
And fed with '' mosses from the manse'' ''"
Yonder the rocky seat where late
With soothed and patient ear we sat
20
Beside our Hawthorne in the dale
And listened to his Twice told Tale.''"

Of yonder river's tide?
And may I ever think
That thou art at my side?

What bird wilt thou employ
To bring me word of thee?
For it would give them joy,
'Twould give them liberty,
To serve their former lord
With wing and minstrelsy.

A sadder strain has mixed with their song,
They've slowlier built their nests,
Since thou art gone
Their lively labor rests.

Where is the finch''"the thrush,
I used to hear?
Ah! they could well abide
The dying year.

Now they no more return,
I hear them not;
They have remained to mourn,
Or else forgot.





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