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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 103, by ALFRED TENNYSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: On that last night before we went Last Line: That landlike slept along the deep. Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron Subject(s): Hallam, Arthur Henry (1811-1833); Death; Mourning; Friendship | |||
On that last night before we went From out the doors where I was bred, I dream'd a vision of the dead, Which left my after-morn content. Methought I dwelt within a hall, And maidens with me; distant hills From hidden summits fed with rills A river sliding by the wall. The hall with harp and carol rang. They sang of what is wise and good And graceful. In the centre stood A statue veil'd, to which they sang; And which, tho' veil'd, was known to me, The shape of him I loved, and love For ever. Then flew in a dove And brought a summons from the sea; And when they learnt that I must go, They wept and wail'd, but led the way To where a little shallop lay At anchor in the flood below; And on by many a level mead, And shadowing bluff that made the banks, We glided winding under ranks Of iris and the golden reed; And still as vaster grew the shore And roll'd the floods in grander space, The maidens gather'd strength and grace And presence, lordlier than before; And I myself, who sat apart And watch'd them, wax'd in every limb; I felt the thews of Anakim, The pulses of a Titan's heart; As one would sing the death of war, And one would chant the history Of that great race which is to be, And one the shaping of a star; Until the forward-creeping tides Began to foam, and we to draw From deep to deep, to where we saw A great ship lift her shining sides. The man we loved was there on deck, But thrice as large as man he bent To greet us. Up the side I went, And fell in silence on his neck; Whereat those maidens with one mind Bewail'd their lot; I did them wrong: 'We served thee here,' they said, 'so long, And wilt thou leave us now behind?' So rapt I was, they could not win An answer from my lips, but he Replying, 'Enter likewise ye And go with us:' they enter'd in. And while the wind began to sweep A music out of sheet and shroud, We steer'd her toward a crimson cloud That landlike slept along the deep. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOU & I BELONG IN THIS KITCHEN by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA JASON THE REAL by TONY HOAGLAND NO RESURRECTION by ROBINSON JEFFERS CHAMBER MUSIC: 17 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 18 by JAMES JOYCE THE STONE TABLE by GALWAY KINNELL ALMSWOMAN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN TO AN ENEMY by MAXWELL BODENHEIM SONNET: 10. TO A FRIEND by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES A CHARACTER by ALFRED TENNYSON |
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