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Poem
August 19, 1822
The Alexandria Herald
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem reflecting on the beauty of nature and joyful memories of childhood and first love, contrasted with the disappointments of the present world, repeatedly questioning if by-past times can return.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE FOUNT.
BY-PAST TIME.
The sky is blue, the sward is green,
The leaf upon the bough is seen,
The wind comes from the balmy west,
The little songster builds its nest,
The bee hums on from flower to flower
Till twilight's dim and pensive hour;
The joyous year arrives; but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
I think on childhood's glowing years~
How soft, how bright the scene appears,
How calm, how cloudless passed away
The long, long summer holiday!
I may not muse I must not dream,
Too beautiful these visions seem
For earth and mortal man, but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
I think of sunny eyes so soft,
Too deeply felt enjoy'd too oft,
When through the blooming fields I roved,
With her, the earliest, dearest loved;
Around whose form I yet survey
In thought a bright, celestial ray;
To present scenes denied, but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
Alas! the world, at distance seen,
Appeared all blissful and serene;
And Eden, formed to tempt the foot
With crystal streams and golden fruit;
That world, when tried and trod, is found
A rocky waste, a thorny ground!
We then revert to youth ; but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
BY-PAST TIME.
The sky is blue, the sward is green,
The leaf upon the bough is seen,
The wind comes from the balmy west,
The little songster builds its nest,
The bee hums on from flower to flower
Till twilight's dim and pensive hour;
The joyous year arrives; but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
I think on childhood's glowing years~
How soft, how bright the scene appears,
How calm, how cloudless passed away
The long, long summer holiday!
I may not muse I must not dream,
Too beautiful these visions seem
For earth and mortal man, but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
I think of sunny eyes so soft,
Too deeply felt enjoy'd too oft,
When through the blooming fields I roved,
With her, the earliest, dearest loved;
Around whose form I yet survey
In thought a bright, celestial ray;
To present scenes denied, but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
Alas! the world, at distance seen,
Appeared all blissful and serene;
And Eden, formed to tempt the foot
With crystal streams and golden fruit;
That world, when tried and trod, is found
A rocky waste, a thorny ground!
We then revert to youth ; but when
Shall by-past times come back again?
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
By Past Time
Nostalgia
Childhood Memories
First Love
Disillusionment
Nature Beauty
Poem Details
Title
By Past Time
Key Lines
Shall By Past Times Come Back Again?
I Think On Childhood's Glowing Years~
How Soft, How Bright The Scene Appears,
How Calm, How Cloudless Passed Away
The Long, Long Summer Holiday!
I Think Of Sunny Eyes So Soft,
Too Deeply Felt Enjoy'd Too Oft,
When Through The Blooming Fields I Roved,
With Her, The Earliest, Dearest Loved;
Alas! The World, At Distance Seen,
Appeared All Blissful And Serene;
And Eden, Formed To Tempt The Foot
With Crystal Streams And Golden Fruit;
That World, When Tried And Trod, Is Found
A Rocky Waste, A Thorny Ground!