BACK, ye Phantoms of the Past, In your dreary caves remain: What have I to do with memories Of a long-forgotten pain? For my Present is all peaceful, And my Future nobly planned: Long ago Time's mighty billows Swept your footsteps from the sand. Back into your caves; nor haunt me With your voices full of woe; I have buried grief and sorrow In the depths of Long-ago. See the glorious clouds of morning Roll away, and clear and bright Shine the rays of cloudless daylight: -- Wherefore will ye moan of night? Never shall my heart be burdened With its ancient woe and fears; I can drive them from my presence, I can check these foolish tears. Back, ye Phantoms; leave, O leave me, To a new and happy lot; Speak no more of things departed; Leave me -- for I know ye not. Can it be that 'mid my gladness I must ever hear you wail, Of the grief that wrung my spirit, And that made my cheek so pale? Joy is mine; but your sad voices Murmur ever in mine ear: Vain is all the Future's promise, While the dreary Past is here. Vain, O worse than vain, the Visions That my heart, my life, would fill, If the Past's relentless phantoms Call upon me still! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MORNING-GLORY by MARIA WHITE LOWELL TO HIS HEART, BIDDING IT HAVE NO FEAR by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS PURIFICATION OF YE B. VIRGIN by JOSEPH BEAUMONT CRUCIFIXUS PRO NOBIS: 3. CHRIST IN HIS PASSION by PATRICK CAREY |