All night I wrestled with a memory Which knocked insurgent at the gates of thought. The crumbled wreck of years behind has wrought Its disillusion; now I only cry For peace, for power to forget the lie Which hope too long has whispered. So I sought The sleep which would not come, and night was fraught With old emotions weeping silently. I heard your voice again, and knew the things Which you had promised proved an empty vaunt. I felt your clinging hands while night's broad wings Cherished our love in darkness. From the lawn A sudden, quivering birdnote, like a taunt. My arms held nothing but the empty dawn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE QUESTION by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON ON BOARD THE '76; WRITTEN FOR BRYANT'S SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE WIND AND THE MOON by GEORGE MACDONALD IDYLLS OF THE KING: THE MARRIAGE OF GERAINT by ALFRED TENNYSON NO SECOND TROY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS PROMETHEUS BOUND: THE OVERTHROW OF ZEUS by AESCHYLUS THE ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH: BOOK 3. EXERCISE by JOHN ARMSTRONG |