I
Last night returning from my twilight walk
I met the grey mist Death, whose eyeless brow
Was bent on me, and from his hand of chalk
He reached me flowers as from a withered bough:
O Death, what bitter nosegays givest thou!
II
Death said, I gather, and pursued his way.
Another stood by me, a shape in stone,
Sword-hacked and iron-stained, with breasts of clay,
And metal veins that sometimes fiery shone:
O Life, how naked and how hard when known!
III
Life said, As thou hast carved me, such am I.
Then memory, like the nightjar on the pine,
And sightless hope, a woodlark in night sky,
Joined notes of Death and Life till night’s decline
Of Death, of Life, those inwound notes are mine.
(George Meredith)
More Poetry from George Meredith:
George Meredith Poems based on Topics: Life, Night, Death & Dying, Memory, Hope- A Faith On Trial (George Meredith Poems)
- The Day Of The Daughter Of Hades (George Meredith Poems)
- Alsace-Lorraine (George Meredith Poems)
- The Empty Purse--A Sermon To Our Later Prodigal Son (George Meredith Poems)
- The Shipwreck Of Idomeneus (George Meredith Poems)
- The Nuptials Of Attila (George Meredith Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Life Poems, Night Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Hope Poems, Memory PoemsBased on Keywords: nosegays, woodlark, nightjar, inwound