|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CARCASSONNE, by GUSTAVE NADAUD Poet's Biography First Line: I'm growing old, I've sixty years Last Line: He never gazed on carcassonne. Subject(s): Carcassonne, France; Travel; Journeys; Trips | |||
"I'M GROWING OLD, I've sixty years; I've labored all my life in vain. In all that time of hopes and fears I've failed my dearest wish to gain. I see full well that here below Bliss unalloyed there is for none; My prayer would else fulfillment know -- Never have I seen Carcassonne! "You see the city from the hill, It lies beyond the mountains blue; And yet to reach it one must still Five long and weary leagues pursue, And, to return, as many more. Had but the vintage plenteous grown ---- But, ah! the grape withheld its store. I shall not look on Carcassonne! "They tell me every day is there Not more or less than Sunday gay; In shining robes and garments fair The people walk upon their way. One gazes there on castle walls As grand as those of Babylon; A bishop and two generals! What joy to dwell in Carcassonne! "The vicar's right: he says that we Are ever wayward, weak, and blind; He tells us in his homily Ambition ruins all mankind. Yet could I there two days have spent, While still the autumn sweetly shone, Ah, me! I might have died content When I had looked on Carcassonne. "Thy pardon, Father, I beseech, In this my prayer if I offend; One something sees beyond his reach From childhood to his journey's end. My wife, our little boy, Aignan, Have traveled even to Narbonne; My grandchild has seen Perpignan; And I -- have not seen Carcassonne!" So crooned, one day, close by Limoux, A peasant, double-bent with age. "Rise up, my friend," said I; "with you I'll go upon this pilgrimage." We left, next morning, his abode, But (Heaven forgive him!) halfway on The old man died upon the road -- He never gazed on Carcassonne. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RICHARD, WHAT'S THAT NOISE? by RICHARD HOWARD LOOKING FOR THE GULF MOTEL by RICHARD BLANCO RIVERS INTO SEAS by LYNDA HULL DESTINATIONS by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE ONE WHO WAS DIFFERENT by RANDALL JARRELL THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON SESTINA: TRAVEL NOTES by WELDON KEES TO H. B. (WITH A BOOK OF VERSE) by MAURICE BARING |
| |