Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BALLADE OF A DEAD LADY, by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLADE OF A DEAD LADY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All old fair things are in their places
Last Line: Ah! Where have they hidden those great eyes?
Subject(s): Aging; Death; Nature; Spring; Youth; Dead, The


All old fair things are in their places,
I count them over, and miss but one;
The April flowers are running races,
The green world stretches its arms to the sun;
The nuptial dance of the days is begun —
The same young stars in the same old skies;
And all that was lost again is won —
But where have they hidden those great eyes?

All have come back — dogwood and daisies —
All things ripple and riot and run;
Swallow and swallow in aery mazes,
A fairy frolic of fire and fun;
The same old enchanted web is spun,
With diamond dews for the same old flies;
Yet all is new, spite of Solomon —
But where have they hidden those great eyes?

Lovely as love are the new-born faces —
God knows they are fair to look upon;
And my heart goes out to the young embraces,
To the flight of the young to the young;
But, Time, what is it that thou hast done?
For my heart 'mid all the blossom cries:
"Roses are many, the Rose is gone —
Ah! where have they hidden those great eyes?"

ENVOI

Prince, I bring you my April praises,
But O! on my heart a shadow lies;
For a face I see not at all my gaze is —
Ah! where have they hidden those great eyes?





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