DO you remember, father, -- It seems so long ago, -- The day we fished together Along the Pocono? At dusk I waited for you, Beside the lumber-mill, And there I heard a hidden bird That chanted, "whip-poor-will," @3"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"@1 Sad and shrill, -- @3"whippoorwill!"@1 The place was all deserted; The mill-wheel hung at rest; The lonely star of evening Was throbbing in the west; The veil of night was falling; The winds were folded still; And everywhere the trembling air Re-echoed "whip-poor-will!" @3"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"@1 Sad and shrill, -- @3"whippoorwill!"@1 You seemed so long in coming, I felt so much alone; The wide, dark world was round me, And life was all unknown; The hand of sorrow touched me, And made my senses thrill With all the pain that haunts the strain Of mournful whip-poor-will. @3"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"@1 Sad and shrill, -- @3"whippoorwill!"@1 What knew I then of trouble? An idle little lad, I had not learned the lessons That make men wise and sad. I dreamed of grief and parting, And something seemed to fill My heart with tears, while in my ears Resounded "whip-poor-will." @3"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"@1 Sad and shrill, -- @3"whippoorwill!"@1 'Twas but a cloud of sadness, That lightly passed away; But I have learned the meaning Of sorrow, since that day. For nevermore at twilight, Beside the silent mill, I'll wait for you, in the falling dew, And hear the whip-poor-will. @3"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"@1 Sad and shrill, -- @3"whippoorwill!"@1 But if you still remember, In that fair land of light, The pains and fears that touch us Along this edge of night, I think all earthly grieving, And all our mortal ill, To you must seem like a sad boy's dream, Who hears the whip-poor-will. @3"Whippoorwill! whippoorwill!"@1 A passing thrill, -- @3"whippoorwill!"@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SOLDIER GOING TO THE FIELD by WILLIAM DAVENANT LAMENT OF THE FRONTIER GUARD by LI PO AS FROM THE PAST -- by WILLIAM ROSE BENET RIDING HORSE TO CULTIVATE IN VERMONT by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY SECOND BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 16 by THOMAS CAMPION TO THE TENTH LEGION, NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEERS, 1862 by RUTH NATALIE CROMWELL TO THE STREET PIANO: A LABOURER'S WIFE by JOHN DAVIDSON TO A YOUNG LADY, WHOSE MOTHER WAS INSANE FROM HER BIRTH by LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON |