Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON THE PROMENADE, by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD Poet's Biography First Line: O joyous idler in the sun Last Line: O youthful dreams that come no more! Subject(s): Fate; Health; Tears; Wealth; Youth; Destiny; Riches; Fortunes | ||||||||
O joyous idler in the sun, In pity slacken here thy pace! A lad, whose course is nearly run, Is watching thee with wistful face. The glow of health upon thy cheek, The youthful ardor in thy gait, Appear to him, so frail and weak, The bitter irony of Fate. Thou art to him the vision fair Of all he once had hoped to be; What wonder, then, that in despair His longing glances follow thee? Let not the gulf too deep appear Between thy fortune and his own! Thou didst not see that falling tear, Nor hear his low, half-stifled moan. The pang of age compared with youth, Or hunger with the spendthrift's wealth, Gnaws not with such a cruel tooth As that of pain confronting health. Yet must the strong ship breast the wave, The wreck lie rotting on the shore; O hopes that perish in the grave! O youthful dreams that come no more! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL LIFE IN A LIFE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS FOUR POEMS ABOUT JAMAICA: 3. A HAIRPIN TURN ABOVE READING, JAMAICA by WILLIAM MATTHEWS IMAGINE YOURSELF by EVE MERRIAM THE PROPHET by LUCILLE CLIFTON I AM FIFTY-TWO YEARS OLD' by KENNETH REXROTH LAST VISIT TO THE SWIMMING POOL SOVIETS by KENNETH REXROTH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG ANARCHIST by KENNETH REXROTH A MAY MONODY by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD |
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