Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG OF RENEWAL: 3, by JOHN FREEMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG OF RENEWAL: 3, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Following his look, I saw the vale shaking
Last Line: Faint marks renewed where love burned through, how many centuries ago!
Subject(s): Death; Flowers; Graves; Love; Memory; Dead, The; Tombs; Tombstones


Following his look, I saw the Vale shaking its miles-long flower of pear,
And village smoke like darker bloom, and distant steam's white-flying mane.
The hills were throbbing, and the light quickened and quivered on the green,
And "New, new, new!" a shrill thrush sang, and "New, new, new!" the larks again.


I took the rusted spade and turned the clay back to its bed of clay.
The grass was yellow where the clay had crushed it all the winter through.
He stood beside me as I bent, each silent for the singing thought
That sang in every nerve and cell reiterating "New, new, new!"

I ended, and he moved away, half substance and half visionary,
Disappearing in the trees, the grass, the flowers, and wind that in them blew.
I remembered him but young and bright, and in his fading hands and brow
Faint marks renewed where Love burned through, how many centuries ago!





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