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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO J. D. H. (KILLED AT SURREY C. H., OCTOBER, 1866) by SIDNEY LANIER

Poet Analysis

First Line: DEAR FRIEND, FORGIVE A WILD LAMENT
Last Line: O SAD LIFE - TO KEEP THEE MINE.
Subject(s): DEATH; FRIENDSHIP; DEAD, THE;

Dear friend, forgive a wild lament
Insanely following thy flight.
I would not cumber to thine ascent
Nor drag thee back into the night;

But the great sea-winds sigh with me,
The fair-faced stars seems wrinkled, old,
And I would that I might lie with thee
There in the grave so cold, so cold!

Grave walls are thick, I cannot see thee,
And the round skies are far and steep;
A-wild to quaff some cup of Lethe,
Pain is proud and scorns to weep.

My heart breaks if it cling about thee,
And still breaks, if far from thine.
O drear, drear death, to live without thee,
O sad life - to keep thee mine.



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