Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WINDOW, by HENRY VAN DYKE Poet's Biography First Line: All night long, by a distant bell Last Line: "and the arms of god around her, she quietly takes her rest." Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus Subject(s): Perception; Thought; Vision; Thinking | ||||||||
ALL night long, by a distant bell The passing hours were notched On the dark, while her breathing rose and fell; And the spark of life I watched In her face was glowing, or fading, -- who could tell? -- And the open window of the room, With a flare of yellow light, Was peering out into the gloom, Like an eye that searched the night. Oh, what do you see in the dark, little window, and why do you peer? "I see that the garden is crowded with creeping forms of fear: Little white ghosts in the locust-tree, wave in the night-wind's breath, And low in the leafy laurels the lurking shadow of death." Sweet, clear notes of a waking bird Told of the passing away Of the dark, -- and my darling may have heard; For she smiled in her sleep, while the ray Of the rising dawn spoke joy without a word, Till the splendour born in the east outburned The yellow lamplight, pale and thin, And the open window slowly turned To the eye of the morning, looking in. Oh, what do you see in the room, little window, that makes you so bright? "I see that a child is asleep on her pillow, soft and white: With the rose of life on her lips, the pulse of life in her breast, And the arms of God around her, she quietly takes her rest." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MILLE ET UN SENTIMENTS (PREMIERS CENTS) by DENISE DUHAMEL SUNDAY AFTERNOON by CLARENCE MAJOR I BROOD ABOUT SOME CONCEPTS, FOR EXAMPLE by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER EASY LESSONS IN GEOPHAGY by KENNETH REXROTH GENTLEMEN, I ADDRESS YOU PUBLICLY by KENNETH REXROTH ON FLOWER WREATH HILL: 1 by KENNETH REXROTH LITTLE BOATIE'; A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD by HENRY VAN DYKE |
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