Tuesday, April 12, 2022

EPITAPH ON A BELOVED FRIEND by Lord Byron


 EPITAPH ON A BELOVED FRIEND 
by Lord Byron


Oh, Friend! for ever lov'd, for ever dear!

What fruitless tears have bathed thy honour'd bier!

What sighs re-echo'd to thy parting breath,

Whilst thou wast struggling in the pangs of death!

Could tears retard the tyrant in his course;

Could sighs avert his dart's relentless force;

Could youth and virtue claim a short delay,

Or beauty charm the spectre from his prey;

Thou still hadst liv'd to bless my aching sight,

Thy comrade's honour and thy friend's delight.

If yet thy gentle spirit hover nigh

The spot where now thy mouldering ashes lie,

Here wilt thou read, recorded on my heart,

A grief too deep to trust the sculptor's art.

No marble marks thy couch of lowly sleep,

But living statues there are seen to weep;

Affliction's semblance bends not o'er thy tomb,

Affliction's self deplores thy youthful doom.

What though thy sire lament his failing line,

A father's sorrows cannot equal mine!

Though none, like thee, his dying hour will cheer,

Yet other offspring soothe his anguish here:

But, who with me shall hold thy former place?

Thine image, what new friendship can efface?

Ah, none!--a father's tears will cease to flow,

Time will assuage an infant brother's woe;

To all, save one, is consolation known,

While solitary Friendship sighs alone.

Thursday, April 7, 2022

LUCY'S SONG by Charles Dickens


LUCY'S SONG 
by Charles Dickens


Love is not a feeling to pass away,

Like the balmy breath of a summer day;

It is not--it cannot be--laid aside;

It is not a thing to forget or hide.

It clings to the heart, ah, woe is me!

As the ivy clings to the old oak tree.


Love is not a passion of earthly mould,

As a thirst for honour, or fame, or gold:

For when all these wishes have died away,

The deep strong love of a brighter day,

Though nourished in secret, consumes the more,

As the slow rust eats to the iron's core.

Friday, March 25, 2022

DRAPIER'S HILL by Jonathan Swift

 DRAPIER'S HILL 

by Jonathan Swift

A FLOWER GIVEN TO MY DAUGHTER by James Joyce

 A FLOWER GIVEN TO MY DAUGHTER 

by James Joyce

ALL DAY I HEAR THE NOISE OF WATERS by James Joyce

 ALL DAY I HEAR THE NOISE OF WATERS 

by James Joyce

ALONE by James Joyce

 ALONE 

by James Joyce

I SPEAK NOT by Lord Byron

 I SPEAK NOT 

by Lord Byron

SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY by Lord Byron

 SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY 

by Lord Byron

INSCRIPTION ON THE MONUMENT OF A NEWFOUNDLAND DOG by Lord Byron

 INSCRIPTION ON THE MONUMENT OF A NEWFOUNDLAND DOG 

by Lord Byron

I BRING AN UNACCUSTOMED WINE by Emily Dickinson

 I BRING AN UNACCUSTOMED WINE 

by Emily Dickinson

I'M NOBODY! WHO ARE YOU? by Emily Dickinson

 I'M NOBODY! WHO ARE YOU? 

by Emily Dickinson