FOR your sovereign sake, my friend, All my lovers are estranged, Shadow lovers without end; But last night they were avenged. On the middle of the night One by one I saw them rise, Passing in the ghostly light, Silent, with averted eyes. First, my master from the South With the laurels round his brow, And the bitter-smiling mouth, Left me -- without smiling now. Then came one long used to rule All I was, or did, or had -- Plato, that I read at school Till my playmates called me mad. Maiden saints as pure as pearls, Beautiful, divine, austere; Sweeter-voiced AEolian girls, Left their friend of many a year. But my earliest friend and best, My Beethoven, this was hard, You should leave me with the rest, Pass without one last regard. For all went and left me there, Sighing as they passed me by; Ah, how sad their voices were! I shall hear them when I die. "Fare thee well," they said; "we go Scorned as shades and dreams. Adieu! Love thine earthly friend, but know Shadows still thou dost pursue." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PENITENTIAL PSALM: 143. DOMINE EXAUDI by THOMAS WYATT THE CHOIR INVISIBLE by MARY ANN EVANS COCK-CROW by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS AH, BIND MY HANDS by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS PRAIRIE VOICES by CHARLOTTE LOUISE BERTLESEN |