Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MONADNOCK, by WILLIAM OLIVER BOURNE PEABODY Poet's Biography First Line: Upon the far-off mountain's brow Last Line: Till life and sorrow end forever. Subject(s): Monadnock (mountain), New Hampshire | ||||||||
UPON the far-off mountain's brow The angry storm has ceased to beat, And broken clouds are gathering now In sullen reverence round his feet; I saw their dark and crowded bands In thunder on his breast descending; But there once more redeemed he stands, And heaven's clear arch is o'er him bending. I've seen him when the morning sun Burned like a bale-fire on the height; I've seen him when the day was done, Bathed in the evening's crimson light. I've seen him at the midnight hour, When all the world were calmly sleeping, Like some stern sentry in his tower, His weary watch in silence keeping. And there, forever firm and clear, His lofty turret upward springs; He owns no rival summit near, No sovereign but the King of kings. Thousands of nations have passed by, Thousands of years unknown to story, And still his aged walls on high He rears, in melancholy glory. The proudest works of human hands Live but an age before they fall; While that severe and hoary tower Outlasts the mightiest of them all. And man himself, more frail, by far, Than even the works his hand is raising, Sinks downward, like the falling star That flashes, and expires in blazing. And all the treasures of the heart, Its loves and sorrows, joys and fears, Its hopes and memories, must depart To sleep with unremembered years. But still that ancient rampart stands Unchanged, though years are passing o'er him; And time withdraws his powerless hands, While ages melt away before him. So should it be, -- for no heart beats Within his cold and silent breast; To him no gentle voice repeats The soothing words that make us blest. And more than this, -- his deep repose Is troubled by no thoughts of sorrow; He hath no weary eyes to close, No cause to hope or fear to-morrow. Farewell! I go my distant way; Perchance, in some succeeding years, The eyes that know no cloud to-day May gaze upon thee dim with tears. Then may thy calm, unaltering form Inspire in me the firm endeavor, Like thee, to meet each lowering storm, Till life and sorrow end forever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MONADNOC by RALPH WALDO EMERSON MOUNTAIN PICTURES: 2. MONADNOCK FROM WACHUSETT by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER A NEW HAMPSHIRE BOY by MORRIS GILBERT BISHOP MONADNOCK FROM AFAR by RALPH WALDO EMERSON MONADNOCK IN OCTOBER by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR LAMENT OF ANASTASIUS by WILLIAM OLIVER BOURNE PEABODY RUTH AND NAOMI by WILLIAM OLIVER BOURNE PEABODY MY BOY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ON TAGORE by MARIANNE MOORE GOOD-BYE DOROTHY GAYLE: OVER THE MACKINAC by KAREN SWENSON LINES TO WILLIAM LINLEY WHILE HE SANG A SONG TO PURCELL'S MUSIC by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |
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