IN the dusk before the dawning, In the dark before the day, I saw its aspic awning Spread above the shadow-way, Stood beneath the rich red weaving And the wax-wrought white so gay Blent to purple past believing— Made of March instead of May. In the silver sunlight's pressure, In the half-warm noon's embrace, I saw the spring's first treasure Like a shining maiden's face; Million petals halo-gleaming, Lambent links of fairy lace, Round the spring-sprite's bosom streaming— Glimpse of glowing girlish grace. Woe! I saw it night enshrouded, Whipt by wind and washt by rain, Light of dawn and noon, beclouded, Joy and youth turned age and pain; Petals flying, ghostly, ghastly, To be trampled down the lane;— But the memory looming vastly Shall forever fair remain. @3Ah, and so shall early blooming Lose all sweetness young life gave? Rainy night-winds darkly dooming Pale pink-whiteness,—beauty brave? Youth's fresh hope go glooming, glooming, Scattered scentless in its grave, And ghost-memory, vastly looming, Be all later life shall save?@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MONODY ON THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. R.B. SHERIDAN by GEORGE GORDON BYRON JACK CREAMER [OCTOBER 25, 1812] by JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM by HENRY BEER PSALM 51 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE WIND OF SUMMER by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY TO A.G.A. by EMILY JANE BRONTE IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY OF MR. YARKER: MENTEM MORTALIA TANGUNT by JOHN CLOSE |