Brave lads in olden musical centuries Sang, night by night, adorable choruses, Sat late by alehouse doors in April Chaunting in joy as the moon was rising. Moon-seen and merry, under the trellises, Flush-faced they play'd with old polysyllables Spring scents inspired, old wine diluted: Love and Apollo were there to chorus. Now these, the songs, remain to eternity, Those, only those, the bountiful choristers Gone -- those are gone, those unremember'd Sleep and are silent in earth for ever. So man himself appears and evanishes, So smiles and goes; as wanderers halting at Some green-embower'd house, play their music, Play and are gone on the windy highway. Yet dwells the strain enshrined in the memory Long after they departed eternally, Forth-faring tow'rd far mountain summits, Cities of men or the sounding Ocean. Youth sang the song in years immemorial: Brave chanticleer, he sang and was beautiful; Bird-haunted green tree-tops in springtime Heard, and were pleased by the voice of singing. Youth goes and leaves behind him a prodigy -- Songs sent by thee afar from Venetian Sea-grey lagunes, sea-paven highways, Dear to me here in my Alpine exile. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CAROL: NEW STYLE by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET ENVOYS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SEPULCHRE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SMOTHERED FIRES by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK by AMY LOWELL |