Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PHANTOMS, by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER Poet's Biography First Line: Back, ye phantoms of the past Last Line: Call upon me still! Alternate Author Name(s): Berwick, Mary Subject(s): Future; Ghosts; Grief; Hearts; Past; Supernatural; Sorrow; Sadness | ||||||||
BACK, ye Phantoms of the Past, In your dreary caves remain: What have I to do with memories Of a long-forgotten pain? For my Present is all peaceful, And my Future nobly planned: Long ago Time's mighty billows Swept your footsteps from the sand. Back into your caves; nor haunt me With your voices full of woe; I have buried grief and sorrow In the depths of Long-ago. See the glorious clouds of morning Roll away, and clear and bright Shine the rays of cloudless daylight: -- Wherefore will ye moan of night? Never shall my heart be burdened With its ancient woe and fears; I can drive them from my presence, I can check these foolish tears. Back, ye Phantoms; leave, O leave me, To a new and happy lot; Speak no more of things departed; Leave me -- for I know ye not. Can it be that 'mid my gladness I must ever hear you wail, Of the grief that wrung my spirit, And that made my cheek so pale? Joy is mine; but your sad voices Murmur ever in mine ear: Vain is all the Future's promise, While the dreary Past is here. Vain, O worse than vain, the Visions That my heart, my life, would fill, If the Past's relentless phantoms Call upon me still! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE DIRGE AT THE END OF THE WOODS by LEONIE ADAMS A DOUBTING HEART by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER |
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