Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

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    The Play is over. While the light
    Yet lingers in the darkening hall,
    I come to say a last Good-night
    Before the final Exeunt all.

    We gathered once, a joyous throng:
    The jovial toasts went gayly round;
    With jest, and laugh, and shout, and song,
    We made the floors and walls resound.

    We come with feeble steps and slow,
    A little band of four or five,
    Left from the wrecks of long ago,
    Still pleased to find ourselves alive.

    Alive! How living, too, are they
    Whose memories it is ours to share!
    Spread the long table's full array, - 
    There sits a ghost in every chair!

    One breathing form no more, alas!
    Amid our slender group we see;
    With him we still remained "The Class," - 
    Without his presence what are we?

    The hand we ever loved to clasp, - 
    That tireless hand which knew no rest, - 
    Loosed from affection's clinging grasp,
    Lies nerveless on the peaceful breast.

    The beaming eye, the cheering voice,
    That lent to life a generous glow,
    Whose every meaning said "Rejoice,"
    We see, we hear, no more below.

    The air seems darkened by his loss,
    Earth's shadowed features look less fair,
    And heavier weighs the daily cross
    His willing shoulders helped us bear.

    Why mourn that we, the favored few
    Whom grasping Time so long has spared
    Life's sweet illusions to pursue,
    The common lot of age have shared?

    In every pulse of Friendship's heart
    There breeds unfelt a throb of pain, - 
    One hour must rend its links apart,
    Though years on years have forged the chain.

    . . . . . . . . . . . .

    So ends "The Boys," - a lifelong play.
    We too must hear the Prompter's call
    To fairer scenes and brighter day
    Farewell! I let the curtain fall.

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Type of Poem: Elegy

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem is a poignant reflection on the inexorable passage of time, the transient nature of life, and the enduring bonds of friendship. The author uses the metaphor of a play ending to signify the closure of a period in life, and the exit of individuals from the grand stage of existence. The tone throughout is one of somber remembrance, tinged with nostalgia and a sense of loss.

The structure of the poem contributes significantly to the unfolding narrative and its emotional resonance. The initial stanzas depict a lively past filled with camaraderie, laughter, and joy, while subsequent verses transition into the present, marked by the absence of a loved one. This contrast effectively highlights the bittersweet nature of memory and the sadness brought by absence and mortality. The repeated references to "ghosts" and "the final Exeunt" underscore the theme of death, while the recurring imagery of clasping hands, beaming eyes, and a cheering voice emphasizes the deeply-felt loss. Despite the melancholy, the poem also conveys a sense of acceptance and resilience, acknowledging the shared lot of aging and the inevitable disruption of the strongest bonds. The poem ends on a hopeful note, hinting at a brighter day beyond the curtain fall, suggesting a belief in an afterlife or a spiritual continuation. The use of the stage and play metaphor, the vivid imagery, and the rhythmic flow of the verses make this poem a poignant exploration of life, death, and enduring friendship.