The West A Glimmering Lake Of Light

William Ernest Henley 1849 (Gloucester) – 1903 (Woking)



The West a glimmering lake of light,
A dream of pearly weather,
The first of stars is burning white -
The star we watch together.
Is April dead? The unresting year
Will shape us our September,
And April's work is done, my dear -
Do you not remember?

O gracious eve! O happy star,
Still-flashing, glowing, sinking! -
Who lives of lovers near or far
So glad as I in thinking?
The gallant world is warm and green,
For May fulfils November.
When lights and leaves and loves have been,
Sweet, will you remember?

O star benignant and serene,
I take the good to-morrow,
That fills from verge to verge my dream,
With all its joy and sorrow!
The old, sweet spell is unforgot
That turns to June December;
And, tho' the world remembered not,
Love, we would remember.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 09, 2023

42 sec read
119

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCBCB DEDEFBXB FGXGABXB
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 740
Words 141
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley was an English poet, critic and editor, best remembered for his 1875 poem "Invictus". more…

All William Ernest Henley poems | William Ernest Henley Books

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