By chance my fingers, resting on my face, Stayed suddenly where in its orbit shone The lamp of all things beautiful; then on, Following more heedfully, did softly trace Each arch and prominence and hollow place That shall revealed be when all else is gone -- Warmth, colour, roundness -- to oblivion, And nothing left but darkness and disgrace. Life like a moment passed seemed then to be; A transient dream this raiment that it wore; While spelled my hand out its mortality, Made certain all that had seemed doubt before: Proved -- O how vaguely, yet how lucidly! -- How much death does: and yet can do no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...O SOUTHLAND! by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MIMNERMUS IN CHURCH by WILLIAM JOHNSON CORY TO WALTER LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD ON HIS BAR-MITZVAH by LOUIS BARNETT ABRAHAMS THE BRONZE STATUE OF NAPOLEON by AUGUSTE BARBIER GOING BACK TO SCHOOL by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET NORTHWARD FLIGHT AT DAWN by GAIL BROOK BURKET ODE TO LIBERTY by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) |