Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AFTER MY LAST SONG by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE

First Line: WHERE I SHALL REST WHEN MY LAST SONG IS OVER
Last Line: YOU'LL SLEEP HERE ON WAN CHEEKS GROWN THIN AND OLD.
Subject(s): DEATH; MORTALITY; POETRY & POETS; WORLD WAR I; DEAD, THE; FIRST WORLD WAR;

WHERE I shall rest when my last song is over
The air is smelling like a feast of wine;
And purple breakers of the windy clover
Shall roll to cool this burning brow of mine;
And there shall come to me, when day is told
The peace of sleep when I am grey and old.

I'm wild for wandering to the far-off places
Since one forsook me whom I held most dear.
I want to see new wonders and new faces
Beyond East seas; but I will win back here
When my last song is sung, and veins are cold
As thawing snow, and I am grey and old.

Oh paining eyes, but not with salty weeping,
My heart is like a sod in winter rain:
Ere you will see those baying waters leaping
Like hungry hounds once more, how many a pain
Shall heal; but when my last short song is trolled
You'll sleep here on wan cheeks grown thin and old.



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