Robert Southey (1774-1843)
My Days among the Dead are Past
1My days among the Dead are past;
2 Around me I behold,
3Where'er these casual eyes are cast,
4 The mighty minds of old;
5My never-failing friends are they,
6With whom I converse day by day.
7With them I take delight in weal,
8 And seek relief in woe;
9And while I understand and feel
10 How much to them I owe,
11My cheeks have often been bedew'd
12With tears of thoughtful gratitude.
13My thoughts are with the Dead, with them
14 I live in long-past years,
15Their virtues love, their faults condemn,
16 Partake their hopes and fears,
17And from their lessons seek and find
18Instruction with an humble mind.
19My hopes are with the Dead, anon
20 My place with them will be,
21And I with them shall travel on
22 Through all Futurity;
23Yet leaving here a name, I trust,
24That will not perish in the dust.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Robert Southey, Poetical Works (London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1837-40). 10 vols. PR 5460 E37 Victoria College Library.
First publication date:
1837
RPO poem editor: J. D. Robins
RP edition: 2RP.2.147; RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/13
Composition date:
1818
Composition date note: Keswick, 1818
Rhyme: ababcc
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