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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TRAMPS, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A schoolboy lay one night a-bed Last Line: And of what things they talk. Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2) | |||
A SCHOOLBOY lay one night a-bed Under his window wide, When dusk is lovelier than day In the high summertide; The jasmin neath the casement throng'd Its ivory stars abloom; With freaking peas and mignonette Their perfume fill'd the room: Across the garden and beyond He look'd out on the skies, And through black elmen boughs afar Watch'd where the moon should rise: A warm rain fed the thirsty earth, Drops patter'd from the eaves And from the tall trees as the shower Fell lisping on their leaves: His heart was full, and pleasant thoughts Made music in his mind, Like separate songs of birds, that are By general joy combined. It seem'd the hour had gather'd up For every sense a bliss To crown the faith of all desire With one assuaging kiss; So that he fought with sleep to hold The rapture while he might, Lest it should sink and drowning die Into the blank of night; Nor kenn'd it was no passing thing Nor ever should be pass'd But with him bide a joy to be As long as Life should last. For though young thoughts be quite forgone, The pleasure of their dream Can mesh them in its living mood And draw them in the stream: So I can fancy when I will That there I lie intent To hear the gentle whispering rain And drink the jasmin scent: And then there sounds a distant tread Of men, that night who strode Along the highway step by step Approaching down the road, A company of three or four That hastening home again After a Sabbath holiday Came talking in the rain: Aloof from all my world and me They pass aneath the wall, Till voice and footstep die away And into silence fall: Into the maze of my delight Those blind intruders walk; And ever I wonder who they be And of what things they talk. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...APRIL, 1885 by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES ASIAN BIRDS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES DEJECTION by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES EROS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES I LOVE ALL BEAUTEOUS THINGS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES LONDON SNOW by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES LOW BAROMETER by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES MATRES DOLOROSAE by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES NIGHTINGALES by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES NOEL: CHRISTMAS EVE, 1913 by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES |
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