[NPPF] Gray's Yew-Tree Shade

[s~Z]

http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/poem882.html

Thomas Gray (1716-1771)

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard


              1The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, 
              2      The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, 
              3The plowman homeward plods his weary way, 
              4      And leaves the world to darkness and to me. 


              5Now fades the glimm'ring landscape on the sight, 
              6      And all the air a solemn stillness holds, 
              7Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, 
              8      And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds; 


              9Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r 
            10      The moping owl does to the moon complain 
            11Of such, as wand'ring near her secret bow'r, 
            12      Molest her ancient solitary reign. 


            13Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, 
            14      Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap, 
            15Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, 
            16      The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. 


            17The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, 
            18      The swallow twitt'ring from the straw-built shed, 
            19The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, 
            20      No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. 


            21For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, 
            22      Or busy housewife ply her evening care: 
            23No children run to lisp their sire's return, 
            24      Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.