"Nessun maggior dolore Che ricordarsi del tempo felice Nella miseria." -- Dante. WHEN the gloom the light appalleth -- When no tear-dew ever falleth Downward silently -- When the tired heart, from languor Of Life's poor unmeaning clangour, Droopeth wearily -- When the day, in its uprising, Bringeth nought that's worth the prizing, And the night, all dark and lonely, No star showeth, but clouds only -- I think of thee. Pleasures past, a ghastly vision -- Words and looks but now tradition That thought brings; Holy Kalends of past meetings Rise again, with quick heart-beatings, On spirit wings. For a moment seems the vision A reality Elysian As the joy before the Fall; While I gaze the brightness waneth, Passeth, fadeth -- what remaineth? Ashes all! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 60. FAREWELL TO JULIET (9) by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE PRISONER (A FRAGMENT) by EMILY JANE BRONTE OLD LEM by STERLING ALLEN BROWN PASSION'S HOUNDS by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 54 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 17 by OMAR KHAYYAM AFTER MUSIC by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY THE HIGH-PRIEST TO ALEXANDER by ALFRED TENNYSON SEVEN SAD SONNETS: 5. SHE THINKS OF THE FAITHFUL ONE by MARY REYNOLDS ALDIS |