 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
VINOGENESIS.
In this choice old Tokai—'tis the richest and rarest—
I drink to the dead who have vanished from sight;
The men who were bravest, the women the fairest,
Who died and have left me so lonely to-night.
I drink to the dead who have vanished from sight;
The men who were bravest, the women the fairest,
Who died and have left me so lonely to-night.
There is frost on my beard; in my heart there is chillness;
My frame has the weakness of three score and ten;
But here in the solitude, calmness and stillness
The love of my youth comes before me again.
My frame has the weakness of three score and ten;
But here in the solitude, calmness and stillness
The love of my youth comes before me again.
The eyes of deep azure, the broad, rippling tresses
With bright, liquid sunshine enhalo her head;
The curved, mobile mouth her emotion expresses;
The zephyr no softer than sound of her tread.
With bright, liquid sunshine enhalo her head;
The curved, mobile mouth her emotion expresses;
The zephyr no softer than sound of her tread.
Who says she is dead, that the weeds and the briers
Have hidden her grave in the churchyard afar?
Such as she are immortal. Be silent, ye liars!
Can death slay the light or the air or a star?
Have hidden her grave in the churchyard afar?
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Can death slay the light or the air or a star?
Dead? No! She is living and loving and tender;
New-born from the mists of the earlier years;
Grace, beauty and virtue surround and defend her,
And the rapture I feel finds expression in tears.
New-born from the mists of the earlier years;
Grace, beauty and virtue surround and defend her,
And the rapture I feel finds expression in tears.
We ramble again 'mid the oaks and the beeches;
We pluck from the branches the bright pinxter flowers;
We again interchange the same sweet, silly speeches,
And wonder why time has been stealing the hours.
We pluck from the branches the bright pinxter flowers;
We again interchange the same sweet, silly speeches,
And wonder why time has been stealing the hours.
Now we sit side by side in the fast growing twilight,
Not caring the sun from the world may depart;
No darkness appalls, for we see by the eyelight,
And bright to true lovers are eyes of the heart.
Not caring the sun from the world may depart;
No darkness appalls, for we see by the eyelight,
And bright to true lovers are eyes of the heart.
Our love is our riches, our splendor, our glory;
We dwell in a palace with joy for a guest;
What care we for those who are famous in story?
What care we who serves, or who reigns o'er the rest?
We dwell in a palace with joy for a guest;
What care we for those who are famous in story?
What care we who serves, or who reigns o'er the rest?
Ah, darling! one kiss as of old ere we parted!
She smiles on me kindly, and fades from my eye,
A dream and delusion. I sit here sad-hearted,
With nothing to cheer but this choice old Tokai.
She smiles on me kindly, and fades from my eye,
A dream and delusion. I sit here sad-hearted,
With nothing to cheer but this choice old Tokai.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |