Author: Algernon Charles Swinburne
Along these low pleached lanes, on such a day, So soft a day as this, through shade and sun, With glad grave eyes that scanned the glad wild way, And heart still hovering oer a song begun, And smile that warmed the world with benison, Our father, lord long since of lordly rhyme, Long since hath haply ridden, when the lime Bloomed broad above him, flowering where he came. Because thy passage once made warm this clime, Our father Chaucer, here we praise thy name. Each year that England clothes herself with May, She takes thy likeness on her. Time hath spun Fresh raiment all in vain and strange array For earth and mans new spirit, fain to shun Things past for dreams of better to be won, Through many a century since thy funeral chime Rang, and men deemed it deaths most direful crime To have spared not thee for very love or shame; And yet, while mists round last years memories climb, Our father Chaucer, here we praise thy name. Each turn of the old wild road whereon we stray, Meseems, might bring us face to face with one Whom seeing we could not but give thanks, and pray For Englands love our father and her son To speak with us as once in days long done With all men, sage and churl and monk and mime, Who knew not as we know the soul sublime That sang for songs love more than lust of fame. Yet, though this be not, yet, in happy time, Our father Chaucer, here we praise thy name. Friend, even as bees about the flowering thyme, Years crowd on years, till hoar decay begrime Names once beloved; but, seeing the sun the same, As birds of autumn fain to praise the prime, Our father Chaucer, here we praise thy name.
Type of Poem: Rondeau
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem is a heartfelt tribute to the legendary poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, often regarded as the father of English literature. The poet uses vivid imagery and a rich pastoral setting to invoke an intimate connection with Chaucer, suggesting a spiritual bond between the poet of the past and the present generation. The recurring theme is the enduring legacy of Chaucer's work and the profound influence he continues to have, even centuries after his death.
The structure of the poem is interesting, with each stanza ending with a refrain that serves as a homage to Chaucer. This repetition reinforces the central theme of the poem and imbues it with a rhythmic quality. The poem's tone is reverential and nostalgic, with a palpable sense of longing for the past and a deep appreciation for Chaucer's contributions to the literary world. The poet skillfully employs various literary devices, such as personification ("England clothes herself with May") and simile ("Friend, even as bees about the flowering thyme"), to enhance the vividness of their descriptions and express their sentiments more effectively. Despite the passage of time and the changes it brings, the poem asserts the timeless relevance and enduring appeal of Chaucer's work, underscoring the universal nature of great literature.