Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE DEATH OF LORD TENNYSON, by ANDREW LANG



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE DEATH OF LORD TENNYSON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Silence! 'the best' (he said) 'are silent now'
Last Line: Who wail above his waking sleep
Subject(s): Tennyson, Alfred (1809-1892)


Silence! 'The best' (he said) 'are silent now ,
That younger bearer of the laurel bough,
Who with his Thyrsis, kindred souls divine,
Harps only for Sicilian Proserpine:
For Arnold died, and Browning died, and he
The oldest, wisest, greatest of the three-
Dies, and what voice shall dirge for him to-day?
For the Muse went with him the darkling way,
And left us mute! . . . Peace! who shall rhyme or rave?
The violet blooms not on the new-made grave,
And not in this first blankness of regret
Are eyes of men who mourn their Master wet.
New grief is dumb: himself through many a year
Withheld the meed of his melodious tear
While Hallam slept. But no! the moment flies!
And rapid rhymers, when the Poet dies,
Wail punctual, and prompt, and unafraid,
In copious instant ditties ready made.
Oh, peace! Ye do but make our loss more deep,
Who wail above his unawaking sleep.






Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net