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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GARDEN-CHAIR; TWO PORTRAITS, by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK Poet's Biography First Line: A pleasant picture, full of meanings deep Last Line: In the king's garden. Alternate Author Name(s): Mulock, Dinah Maria | |||
A PLEASANT picture, full of meanings deep, Old age, calm sitting in the July sun, On withered hands half-leaning -- feeble hands, That after their life-labors, light or hard, Their girlish broideries, their marriage-ringed Domestic duties, their sweet cradle cares, Have dropped into the quiet-folded ease Of fourscore years. How peacefully the eyes Face us! Contented, unregretful eyes, That carry in them the whole tale of life With its one moral -- "Thus all was -- thus best." Eyes now so near unto their closing mild They seem to pierce direct through all that maze, As eyes immortal do. Here -- Youth. She stands Under the roses, with elastic foot Poised to step forward; eager-eyed, yet grave Beneath the mystery of the unknown To-come, Though longing for its coming. Firm prepared (So say the lifted head and close, sweet mouth) For any future: though the dreamy hope Throned on her girlish forehead, whispers fond, "Surely they err who say that life is hard; Surely it shall not be with me as these." God knows: He only. And so best, dear child, Thou woman-statured, sixteen-year-old child, Meet bravely the impenetrable Dark Under thy roses. Bud and blossom thou Fearless as they -- if thou art planted safe, Whether for gathering or for withering, safe In the King's garden. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOUGLAS, DOUGLAS, TENDER AND TRUE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK HER LIKENESS by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK NOW AND AFTERWARDS by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK ONLY A WOMAN by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK PHILIP, MY KING by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A 'MERCENARY' MARRIAGE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A CHILD'S SMILE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A CHRISTMAS CAROL by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A DEAD BABY by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A DEAD SEA-GULL; NEAR LIVERPOOL by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK |
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