- Thanatopsis - by NekhbetSun
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Description
Mornin' All...
More cleanin' out the artistic closet, but I thought this would be somewhat apropos in light of the college tragedy...the picture's not much, I know, but I've always loved this poem and thought it would be timely.
It's long, but well worth the read.
~ Love & Hugs ~
* Mina *
THANATOPSIS
~William Cullen Bryant
(1794-1878)
To him who, in the love of Nature, holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language: for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings, with a mild
And healing sympathy, that steals away
Their sharpness ere he is aware. When thoughts
Of the last bitter hour come like a blight
Over thy spirit, and sad images
Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall,
And breathless darkness, and the narrow house,
Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart,
Go forth under the open sky, and list
To Nature's teachings, while from all around
Earth and her waters, and the depths of air
Comes a still voice: - Yet a few days, and thee
The all-beholding sun shall see no more
In all his course; nor yet in the cold ground,
Where thy pale form was laid, with many tears,
Nor in the embrace of ocean, shall exist
Thy image. Earth, that nourished thee shall claim
Thy growth, to be resolved to earth again;
And, lost each human trace, surrendering up
Thine individual being, shalt thou go
To mix forever with the elements;
To be a brother to the insensible rock,
And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain
Turns with his share, and treads upon.
The oak Shall send his roots abroad,
and pierce thy mold.
Yet not to thine eternal resting place
Shalt thou retire alone - nor couldst thou wish
Couch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down
With patriarchs of the infant world - with kings,
The powerful of the earth - the wise, the good,
Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepulcher. The hills,
Rock ribbed, and ancient as the sun; the vales
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The venerable woods; rivers that move
In majesty, and the complaining brooks,
That make the meadows green; and poured round all
Old ocean's gray and melancholy waste -
Are but the solemn decorations all
Of the great tomb of man ! The golden sun,
The planets, all the infinite host of heaven,
Are shining on the sad abodes of death,
Through the still lapse of ages. All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom. Take the wings
Of morning, pierce the Barcan wilderness,
Or lose thyself in the continuous woods
Where rolls the Oregon and hears no sound
Save his own dashings - yet the dead are there;
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid them down
In their last sleep - the dead reign there alone !
So shalt thou rest, and what if thou withdraw
In silence from the living; and no friend
Take note of thy departure ? All that breathe
Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh
When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care
Plod on, and each one as before shall chase
His favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave
Their mirth and their employments, and shall come
And make their bed with thee. As the long train
Of ages glides away, the sons of men -
The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes
In the full strength of years, matron and maid,
And the sweet babe, and the gray headed man -
Shall one by one be gathered to thy side,
By those, who in their turn shall follow them.
So live that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
Photo Credits:
stock xchng
Comments (40)
Janiss
Brilliant text and wonderfull pict symbolic and colors that I adore!!
auntietk
Beautiful image. In particular, I like the bare trees that appear to be embossed. Lovely work, as usual!
Denys234
Excellent!
3Dillusions
I absolutely adore that star :) Angela
Richardphotos
very expressive image of despair and I like your frame design
DeathTwister
OMG I love the way you embosed the trees, how wonderful that is /smiles...However I see you sitting by yourself and hope that you are not lonesome for company as it looks like in the picture, but like me, if you like to walk to your own drummer it can be anamantha to our souls. Very very well done. DT
magichild2
The poem is so heart felt. The image and the way you did the embossed trees is beautiful. A great tribute.
2Loose2Trek
I'm amazed that this poem was begun when the author was but 16 and completed when he was 17 ... well, I do believe he added a line or two later in life. And such amazing art to complement those fine words. Well done dear Mina. Hugs!!!
claude19
Great frame design, great text writed, great use of colours ! A splendid moment !
RodolfoCiminelli
Excellent and creative work Mina....!!!
Zorg1955
A huge compo ....With so much to read in !
lior
Very creativ artwork, so wonderful composition too!
evielouise
Beautiful poem I remember somewhere ?? I read it before and bad happenings are so hard at times but hopefully things will get better but for now the bitterness of all who has lost love ones is so very difficult: love your image :hugs ))
mamabobbijo
A beautiful picture and a lovely poem to go with. A touching tribute to those poor young souls. BJ
Valerie-Ducom
Oh yes, so beautiful and very nice color !! Good day :)
Jay-el-Jay
An appropriately pensive piece of work.
wildgoha
alost made me cry I canmake my own story there
bpclarke
Lovely! Incredibly beautiful dedi with both poem choice and image. Bunny
pops
Love ethe effect of the distant star-beautiful image and poem
collinbabcock
Nice work, especially the overlay
Thelby
I really like the under texture you did on the left. You don't see that very often anymore and it is so full of Impact. Fabulous work Mina!!!!!
ARTWITHIN
Mina, your image has so much of the spirit of the poem. Both lovely and deep, as well as inspirational. Thank you and Hugs, Suzanne
eekdog
moody and beautiful Mina, so well done.
miashadows
Beautiful work,very still and peaceful,fits the poem perfectly-exellent
angel_dust
Beautiful image and story!
visionart
Nice Poem And For The Artwork......Magnificent Mina!!!!!!
JillianElf
This is a touching and lovely piece of art Mina! The poem is perfect, and I am sure it will touch anyone who has seen the news in VA....you have brought some light to the dark. Thank you Hugs
npauling
Love how you have done those trees that look embossed. Beautiful picture and dedication.
annie5
Sorry I cannot read your poem because my english LOL Superb composition and idea Mina..Great work :)
nikolais
conceived with lots of love and talent, Mina