Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

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    From the first gleam of morning to the gray
    Of peaceful evening, lo, a life unrolled!
    In woven pictures all its changes told,
    Its lights, its shadows, every flitting ray,
    Till the long curtain, falling, dims the day,
    Steals from the dial's disk the sunlight's gold,
    And all the graven hours grow dark and cold
    Where late the glowing blaze of noontide lay.
    Ah! the warm blood runs wild in youthful veins, - 
    Let me no longer play with painted fire;
    New songs for new-born days! I would not tire
    The listening ears that wait for fresher strains
    In phrase new-moulded, new-forged rhythmic chains,
    With plaintive measures from a worn-out lyre.

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Type of Poem: Sonnet

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem beautifully captures the theme of life's ephemeral and cyclical nature, from morning to night, from youth to old age. The poet uses vivid imagery and metaphors throughout the poem, likening the progression of life to the moving hands of a sundial and the shifting light of day. The tone of the poem is nostalgic and slightly melancholic, reflecting on the loss of time even as it recognizes the unfading beauty inherent in each stage of life.

The poem's structure, an English sonnet, lends itself to a clear progression of thought. The first eight lines (the octave) present the main idea — life's transience — through the metaphor of a day's passage. The final six lines (the sestet) reflect a shift in perspective, from observation to personal reflection. Here, the poet acknowledges the need for evolution, for "new songs for new-born days," a metaphor for the rejuvenation and continuity of life.

Notably, the poet uses the literary device of personification, attributing human characteristics to the sundial and time itself. This serves to deepen the emotional impact of the poem, making the abstract concept of time more relatable and tangible for the reader. Through its thoughtful reflection on time and change, the poem encourages readers to appreciate each moment, each stage of life, and to embrace the inevitability of change.