Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE REFUSAL OF CHARON, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Why look the distant mountains Last Line: Nor could I part them more Subject(s): Charon; Styx (river) | ||||||||
WHY look the distant mountains So gloomy and so drear? Are rain-clouds passing o'er them, Or is the tempest near? No shadow of the tempest Is there, nor wind nor rain -- 'Tis Charon that is passing by, With all his gloomy train. The young men march before him, In all their strength and pride: The tender little infants, They totter by his side; The old men walk behind him, And earnestly they pray -- Both young and old imploring him To grant some brief delay. 'O Charon! halt, we pray thee, By yonder little town, Or near that sparkling fountain, Where the waters wimple down! The old will drink and be refreshed, The young the disc will fling, And the tender little children Pluck flowers beside the spring.' 'I will not stay my journey, Nor halt by any town, Near any sparkling fountain, Where the waters wimple down: The mothers coming to the well Would know the babes they bore; The wives would clasp their husbands, Nor could I part them more.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHARON'S COSMOLOGY by CHARLES SIMIC VARIATIONS ON A THEME by ALFRED GOLDSWORTHY BAILEY A GHOST SPEAKS ON THE STYX by JOHN DRINKWATER ALCESTIS: SCENE 2 by EURIPIDES GALSWORTHY TAKES THE FERRY by ELMER GUSTAFSON CHARON AND PHILOMEL [PHYLOMEL], A DIALOGUE SUNG by ROBERT HERRICK THE NEW CHARON, UPON THE DEATH OF HENRY LORD HASTINGS by ROBERT HERRICK A MOCK CHARON; DIALOGUE: CHARON, WHARTON by RICHARD LOVELACE TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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