University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Poems (1895)

Wade, Thomas (1805-1875)

collapse section 
[section]
  
TO CERTAIN “CRITICS.”
collapse section 
FIFTY SONNETS BY THOMAS WADE.
 I. 
I. BIRTH AND DEATH.
 II. 
II. WHO MAY SAY?
 III. 
III. THE NEAR ADVENT.
 IV. 
IV. A WARNING.
 V. 
V. THE CHILD.
 VI. 
VI. TO MY CHILD.
 VII. 
VII. THE FEAR.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE ENTREATY.
 IX. 
IX. THE RETURN.
 X. 
X. THE BARRIER-BOND.
 XI. 
XI. HIGH-SPEAKINGS.
 XII. 
XII. THE FIRST DAY OF THE FOURTH YEAR.
 XIII. 
XIII. TO BABY.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE RESULT.
 XV. 
XV.
 XXV. 
XXV. ON HEARING SOME FINE MUSIC ILL-PLAYED.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE FACE.—I.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. THE FACE.—II.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. POETRY AND SCIENCE.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. COMPANIONSHIP.
 XXX. 
XXX. THE FALLERS-SHORT.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. THE SWAN.
 XXXII. 
XXXII.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. THE “POETRY OF EARTH.”
 XXXV. 
XXXV. THE SERE OAK LEAVES.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. THE SWAN-AVIARY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. SPIRIT SOLACE.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. DECEMBER—MAY.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. THE SUN AND THE DAISY.
 XL. 
XL. THE ACCOMPANIMENT.
 XLI. 
XLI. THE CRUCIFIXION.
 XLII. 
XLII. THE MAN-“GOD.”
 XLIII. 
XLIII. TRACES.
 XLIV-XLV. 
XLIV.—XLV. BEETHOVEN'S “SONATA WITH THE FUNERAL MARCH.”
 XLVI. 
XLVI. CHRISTMAS 1866.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. WRITTEN AFTER HEARING GREAT MUSIC.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII. WRITTEN AFTER HAVING RECEIVED A PRESENT OF FLOWERS.
 XLIX. 
XLIX. A TRIBUTE TO THE PRESENT, AND A REMINISCENCE OF THE FAR PAST.
 L. 
L. TO THE PIANOFORTE.
  
THE CONTENTION OF DEATH AND LOVE.
  
[note]
  
HELENA.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Poems (1895)
next section
105

XXXV. THE SERE OAK LEAVES.

Why do ye rustle in this vernal wind,
Sere Leaves! shaking a drear prophetic shroud
Over the very cradle of the Spring?
Like pertinacious Age, with warnings loud,
Dinning the grave into an infant's mind,
And shadowing death on life's first imaging!
Why to these teeming branches do ye cling
And with your argument renascence cloud;
Whilst every creature of new birth is proud,
And in unstain'd existence revelling?
Fall, and a grave within the centre find!
And do not thus, whilst all the sweet birds sing,
The insects glitter, and the flower'd grass waves,
Blight us with thoughts of winter and our graves!
previous section Poems (1895)
next section