Oft, in the Stilly Night (Scotch Air)
Oft, in the stilly night,
Ere slumber’s chain has bound me,
Fond memory brings the light
Of other days around me;
The smiles, the tears,
Of boyhood’s years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimm’d and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere slumber’s chain hath bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
When I remember all
The friends, so link’d together,
I’ve seen around me fall,
Like leaves in wintry weather;
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere slumber’s chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
Beautiful lines, but haven't read before.
ReplyDeleteThank you Indrani.
DeleteThanks for reading UK.
ReplyDeleteAh, it's got that hint of wistful nostalgia and a tinge of melancholic longing to it, loved it!
ReplyDeleteYes Arti the sentiments seem to come straight from the heart,that is why they click.I am glad you loved it.
Deletememories they bring both sorrow and happiness ..
ReplyDeletea beautiful poem
Bikram's
True Bikram--depends upon your perspective,how you look at it.
DeleteA lovely journey of life so well encapsulated!
ReplyDeleteYes Rahul it is indeed well written.
Deletenostalgia and sadness Indu ji ---every one feels like this sometime or the other in his/her lifetime
ReplyDeleteSure,and more so as we age.
DeleteLots of love.
I have never read this before but it is so incredibly beautiful. It really stirs my soul....
ReplyDeleteYes Colleen,i can understand.I wish i could know the whole of it.
DeleteColleen i found the entire poem -it is by Thomas Moore.Here is the link
Deletehttp://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174048