Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WHIP-POOR-WILL, by HENRY VAN DYKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WHIP-POOR-WILL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Do you remember, father
Last Line: "a passing thrill, -- ""whippoorwill!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): Birds; Fathers & Sons; Whipporwills


DO you remember, father, --
It seems so long ago, --
The day we fished together
Along the Pocono?
At dusk I waited for you,
Beside the lumber-mill,
And there I heard a hidden bird
That chanted, "whip-poor-will,"
"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"
Sad and shrill, -- "whippoorwill!"

The place was all deserted;
The mill-wheel hung at rest;
The lonely star of evening
Was throbbing in the west;
The veil of night was falling;
The winds were folded still;
And everywhere the trembling air
Re-echoed "whip-poor-will!"
"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"
Sad and shrill, -- "whippoorwill!"

You seemed so long in coming,
I felt so much alone;
The wide, dark world was round me,
And life was all unknown;
The hand of sorrow touched me,
And made my senses thrill
With all the pain that haunts the strain
Of mournful whip-poor-will.
"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"
Sad and shrill, -- "whippoorwill!"

What knew I then of trouble?
An idle little lad,
I had not learned the lessons
That make men wise and sad.
I dreamed of grief and parting,
And something seemed to fill
My heart with tears, while in my ears
Resounded "whip-poor-will."
"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"
Sad and shrill, -- "whippoorwill!"

'Twas but a cloud of sadness,
That lightly passed away;
But I have learned the meaning
Of sorrow, since that day.
For nevermore at twilight,
Beside the silent mill,
I'll wait for you, in the falling dew,
And hear the whip-poor-will.
"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"
Sad and shrill, -- "whippoorwill!"

But if you still remember,
In that fair land of light,
The pains and fears that touch us
Along this edge of night,
I think all earthly grieving,
And all our mortal ill,
To you must seem like a sad boy's dream,
Who hears the whip-poor-will.
"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"
A passing thrill, -- "whippoorwill!"





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