Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


BEFORE SUNSET (1) by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE

Poet Analysis

First Line: IN THE LOWER LANDS OF DAY
Last Line: LORD AS TIME WAS OVER DEATH.
Subject(s): EVENING; FLOWERS; LOVE; SUNSET; TWILIGHT;

IN the lower lands of day
On the hither side of night,
There is nothing that will stay,
There are all things soft to sight;
Lighted shade and shadowy light
In the wayside and the way,
Hours the sun has spared to smite.
Flowers the rain has left to play.

Shall these hours run down and say
No good thing of thee and me?
Time that made us and will slay
Laughs at love in me and thee;
But if here the flowers may see
One whole hour of amorous breath,
Time shall die, and love shall be
Lord as time was over death.



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