Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

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    One memory trembles on our lips;
    It throbs in every breast;
    In tear-dimmed eyes, in mirth's eclipse,
    The shadow stands confessed.

    O silent voice, that cheered so long
    Our manhood's marching day,
    Without thy breath of heavenly song,
    How weary seems the way!

    Vain every pictured phrase to tell
    Our sorrowing heart's desire, - 
    The shattered harp, the broken shell,
    The silent unstrung lyre;

    For youth was round us while he sang;
    It glowed in every tone;
    With bridal chimes the echoes rang,
    And made the past our own.

    Oh blissful dream! Our nursery joys
    We know must have an end,
    But love and friendship's broken toys
    May God's good angels mend!

    The cheering smile, the voice of mirth
    And laughter's gay surprise
    That please the children born of earth.
    Why deem that Heaven denies?

    Methinks in that refulgent sphere
    That knows not sun or moon,
    An earth-born saint might long to hear
    One verse of "Bonny Doon";

    Or walking through the streets of gold
    In heaven's unclouded light,
    His lips recall the song of old
    And hum "The sky is bright."

    And can we smile when thou art dead?
    Ah, brothers, even so!
    The rose of summer will be red,
    In spite of winter's snow.

    Thou wouldst not leave us all in gloom
    Because thy song is still,
    Nor blight the banquet-garland's bloom
    With grief's untimely chill.

    The sighing wintry winds complain, - 
    The singing bird has flown, - 
    Hark! heard I not that ringing strain,
    That clear celestial tone?

    How poor these pallid phrases seem,
    How weak this tinkling line,
    As warbles through my waking dream
    That angel voice of thine!

    Thy requiem asks a sweeter lay;
    It falters on my tongue;
    For all we vainly strive to say,
    Thou shouldst thyself have sung!

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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: This poem can be characterized as a melancholic yet uplifting meditation on memory, loss, and the enduring power of song. The central theme revolves around the importance of cherishing memories and the poignant nostalgia that accompanies the loss of a loved one. The narrator seems to be mourning a departed soul whose voice and songs were a source of comfort and joy.

The poem uses rich and evocative imagery to express this sense of loss. Phrases like "the shattered harp, the broken shell, the silent unstrung lyre" underscore the silence left in the aftermath of the loss. However, the tone of the poem is not entirely desolate. It also emphasizes the idea of enduring hope and resilience. The poet insists that "the rose of summer will be red, in spite of winter's snow," a metaphor suggesting that life and beauty persist in spite of loss.

The structure of the poem, organized into quatrains, maintains a consistent rhythm. The poet's use of literary devices, such as paradox ("In tear-dimmed eyes, in mirth's eclipse, The shadow stands confessed."), and personification ("The sighing wintry winds complain, - The singing bird has flown") add depth to the emotional landscape of the poem.

Overall, the poem successfully portrays the universal human experiences of loss and remembrance, and it carries a message of hope and continuity amidst the sorrow of loss.