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Poem
July 25, 1883
The Louisiana Democrat
Alexandria, Rapides County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
A lyrical address to the first gray hair, expressing loathing through metaphors of weeds, mildew, and Judas-like betrayal, symbolizing the onset of aging and inevitable decay.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Hail thee, but I hate thee, lurking there,
Thou first gray hair.
Thou soft and silken coil,
Thou milk-white blossom in a midnight tress;
Out from the alien soil
I'll pluck thee in thine infant tenderness,
As the rude husbandman uproots the tare,
Thou first gray hair.
Of all the fleecy flock,
Thou art the one to loathe and to despise;
The cheat within the shock,
The mold that on the early harvest lies,
The mildew on the blossoms of the pear—
The first gray hair.
And thou the Judas art
The tatter of old Time, who doth betray
The weary, worn-out heart
Ere yet we dare to dream of its decay:
Thou art a hint of wreck beyond repair,
The first gray hair.
Thou first gray hair.
Thou soft and silken coil,
Thou milk-white blossom in a midnight tress;
Out from the alien soil
I'll pluck thee in thine infant tenderness,
As the rude husbandman uproots the tare,
Thou first gray hair.
Of all the fleecy flock,
Thou art the one to loathe and to despise;
The cheat within the shock,
The mold that on the early harvest lies,
The mildew on the blossoms of the pear—
The first gray hair.
And thou the Judas art
The tatter of old Time, who doth betray
The weary, worn-out heart
Ere yet we dare to dream of its decay:
Thou art a hint of wreck beyond repair,
The first gray hair.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
First Gray Hair
Aging
Mortality
Betrayal
Decay
Poem Details
Subject
Hatred Of The First Gray Hair
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
Hail Thee, But I Hate Thee, Lurking There,
Thou First Gray Hair.
And Thou The Judas Art
The Tatter Of Old Time, Who Doth Betray
Thou Art A Hint Of Wreck Beyond Repair,