Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A SONG, by ANONYMOUS First Line: My head on moss reclining Last Line: And nothing but the willow / remained there to be seen Subject(s): Willow Trees | ||||||||
MY head on moss reclining, Hard by a murm'ring stream, My sleep, more soft than rhyming, Dissolved into a dream. The willows that surrounded Methought began to talk; And men by love confounded Like Hamlet's ghost did stalk. 'Friends,' say the mournful willows, 'Should you our garlands wear, And thus forsake your pillows, Nor shun the fatal snare, You soon would be as we are, Fast-rooted on the shore; For we were men as you are, But shall be so no more.' Then ev'ry silent lover His drooping head did rear, Say'ng, 'What we sought to smother, To you we will declare; We each have been a lover, And wore love's fatal chain; With awe each strove to move her, Who slew him with disdain.' 'But since such low submission Our fair ones could not move, To hide our sad condition From mortals we have strove.' Then little Cupid, laughing, Dropped from an azure cloud, And while his wings were chaffing, He settled in the crowd. And told them that his mother Such lovers would despise: 'Then seek not love to smother, But seize each man his prize; And then caress and press her, Nor give her room to fly, But in soft murmurs tell her, 'Twere happy so to die. 'And by the lips' injection Drive love into her brain, And then for his protection, Go purchase Hymen's chain.' I started from my pillow Of moss most soft and green, And nothing but the willow Remained there to be seen. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUNTING PHEASANTS IN A CORNFIELD by ROBERT BLY SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: COLUMBUS CHENEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS WILLOW SONG; FOR FRANCES HOROWITZ by ANNE STEVENSON LANDSCAPES (FOR CLEMENT R. WOOD) by LOUIS UNTERMEYER WILLOW POEM by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THE WILLOWS by FRANCIS BRET HARTE PUSSY WILLOWS by ELIZABETH BRADY TREES IN AUTUMN by ANNE MILLAY BREMER TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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