Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE VALLEY OF WHITE POPPIES by WILLIAM SHARP

First Line: BETWEEN THE GREY PASTURES AND THE DARK WOOD
Last Line: I AM ALONE NOW AMONG THE SILENT GRASSES.
Subject(s): DEATH; FUTURE LIFE; POPPIES; SALVATION; SILENCE; DEAD, THE; RETRIBUTION; ETERNITY; AFTER LIFE;

Between the grey pastures and the dark wood
A valley of white poppies is lit by the low moon:
It is the grave of dreams, a holy rood.

It is quiet there: no wind doth ever fall.
Long, long ago a wind sang once a heartsweet rune.
Now the white poppies grow, silent and tall.

A white bird floats there like a drifting leaf:
It feeds upon faint sweet hopes and perishing dreams
And the still breath of unremembering grief.

And as a silent leaf the white bird passes,
Winnowing the dusk by dim forgetful streams.
I am alone now among the silent grasses.



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