IN vain the morning trims her brows, A shadow all the sunshine shrouds; The moon at evening vainly ploughs Her golden furrows in the clouds. In vain the morn her splendor hath; The stars, in vain, their gracious cheer; There moves a phantom on my path, A shapeless phantom that I fear. The summer wears a weary smile, A weary hum the woodland fills; The dusty road looks tired the while It climbs along the sleepy hills. Still do I strive to build my song Against this grim aggressive gloom; O hope, I say, be strong, be strong! Some special, saving grace must come. I sit and talk of sunnier skies, Of flowers with healing in their gleams, But still the shapeless shadow flies Before me to the land of dreams. O friends of mine, who sit dismayed And watch, I cry, with bated breath; Yet from their answering shrink afraid, Lest that they name the name of Death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WHITE PEACOCK by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET THE STORY OF THE END OF THE STORY by JAMES GALVIN TAPS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: COLUMBUS CHENEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |