They say that dead men tell no tales! Except of barges with red sails And sailors mad for nightingales; Except of jongleurs stretched at ease Beside old highways through the trees; Except of dying moons that break The hearts of lads who lie awake; Except of fortresses in shade And heroes crumbled and betrayed. But dead men tell no tales, they say! Except old tales that burn away The stiffling tapestries of day; Old tales of life, of love and hate, Of time and space, and will and fate. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WASHING-DAY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE FIRST VOYAGE OF JOHN CABOT [1497] by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE CUMBERLAND by HERMAN MELVILLE ON A BUST OF DANTE by THOMAS WILLIAM PARSONS |