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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HOSPENTHAL, by NATHANIEL LANGDON FROTHINGHAM Poet's Biography First Line: Full dawn upon the heights of st. Gothard! Last Line: His matin-prayer aloud. Subject(s): Hospenthal, Switzerland | |||
FULL dawn upon the heights of St. Gothard! Wild nature and rude life! And close-heaped dwellings where few comforts are, Seemed with them both at strife. The desolate church spoke little to the soul; And yet its claim would put, When the quaint round-tower on its rocky knoll Invited not the foot. The stranger entered, peering dimly round; No being met his sight; No sign of motion and no breath of sound Stirred in that early light. He walked and gazed and mused awhile, when, look! In funeral trappings dressed, A child its last mysterious slumber took, Christ's emblems on its breast. Close by the altar's steps they laid it out, -- Out from all harm and dearth, -- And nearer than elsewhere, they did not doubt, To the God of heaven and earth. He was not now alone; the newly dead A strange, sad presence made, Which all night long its unheard lesson read, Through the deep double shade. No, not alone: lo, spirits back from the Lord, A loved, lamented crowd! He bent, like Jacob, o'er his staff, and poured His matin-prayer aloud. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BURYING-GROUND by NATHANIEL LANGDON FROTHINGHAM THE CROSSED SWORDS by NATHANIEL LANGDON FROTHINGHAM THE CORNELIAN by GEORGE GORDON BYRON FIRST BOOK OF AIRS: 20. A HAPPY MARRIAGE by THOMAS CAMPION THE PHANTOM KISS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR CATAWBA WINE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ISAAC AND ARCHIBALD by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE PASSING SHOW by AMBROSE BIERCE TO ENGLISH CONNOISSEURS by WILLIAM BLAKE FIAMMETTA: SONNET. TO DANTE IN PARADISE by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO |
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