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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON ANNE ALLEN, by EDWARD FITZGERALD Poet Analysis First Line: The wind blew keenly from the western sea Last Line: She is with thee, o death. Subject(s): Death; Dead, The | |||
The wind blew keenly from the Western sea, And drove the dead leaves slanting from the tree -- Vanity of vanities, the Preacher saith -- Heaping them up before her Father's door When I saw her whom I shall see no more -- We cannot bribe thee, Death. She went abroad the falling leaves among, She saw the merry season fade, and sung -- Vanity of vanities the Preacher saith -- Freely she wandered in the leafless wood, And said that all was fresh, and fair, and good -- She knew thee not, O Death. She bound her shining hair across her brow, She went into the garden fading now; Vanity of vanities the Preacher saith -- And if one sighed to think that it was sere, She smiled to think that it would bloom next year! She feared thee not, O Death. Blooming she came back to the cheerful room With all the fairer flowers yet in bloom -- Vanity of vanities the Preacher saith, -- A fragrant knot for each of us she tied, And placed the fairest at her Father's side -- She cannot charm thee, Death. Her pleasant smile spread sunshine upon all; We heard her sweet clear laughter in the Hall -- Vanity of vanities the Preacher saith -- We heard her sometimes after evening prayer, As she went singing softly up the stair -- No voice can charm thee, Death. Where is the pleasant smile, the laughter kind, That made sweet music of the winter wind? Vanity of vanities the preacher saith -- Idly they gaze upon her empty place, Her kiss hath faded from her Father's face -- She is with thee, O Death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND |
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