Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SONG OF A SUMMER STREAM, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL Poet's Biography First Line: A few months ago Last Line: When the lonely songs are gathered in the mighty choir of praise. Subject(s): Summer | ||||||||
A FEW months ago I was singing through the snow, Though the dead brown boughs gave no hope of summer shoots, And my persevering fall Seemed to be no use at all, For the hard, hard frost would not let me reach the roots. Then the mists hung chill All along the wooded hill, And the cold, sad fog through my lonely dingles crept; I was glad I had no power To awake one tender flower To a sure, swift doom! I would rather that it slept. Still I sang all alone In the sweet old summer tone, For the strong white ice could not hush me for a day; Though no other voice was heard But the bitter breeze that whirred Past the gaunt, gray trunks on its wild and angry way. So the dim days sped, While everything seemed dead, And my own poor flow seemed the only living sign; And the keen stars shone When the freezing night came on, From the far, far heights, all so cold and crystalline. A few months ago I was singing through the snow! But now the blessed sunshine is filling all the land, And the memories are lost Of the winter fog and frost, In the presence of the summer with her full and glowing hand. Now the woodlark comes to drink At my cool and pearly brink, And the ladyfern is bending to kiss my rainbow foam; And the wild rosebuds entwine With the dark-leaved bramble-vine, And the centuried oak is green around the bright-eyed squirrel's home. Oh, the full and glad content That my little song is blent With the all-melodious mingling of the choristers around! I no longer sing alone Through a chill surrounding moan, For the very air is trembling with its wealth of summer sound. Though the hope seemed long deferred, Ere the south wind's whisper heard Gave a promise of the passing of the weary winter days, Yet the blessing was secure, For the summer time was sure, When the lonely songs are gathered in the mighty choir of praise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ADVANCE OF SUMMER by MARY KINZIE THE SUMMER IMAGE by LEONIE ADAMS CANOEBIAL BLISS by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY THE END OF SUMMER by HENRY MEADE BLAND THE FARMER'S BOY: SUMMER by ROBERT BLOOMFIELD SONNET: 14. APPROACH OF SUMMER by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES JULY IN WASHINGTON by ROBERT LOWELL ODE TO THE END OF SUMMER by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY CONSECRATION HYMN by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL I DID THIS FOR THEE! WHAT HAST THOU DONE FOR ME? by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY FATHER, 1860 by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL |
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