Oft, in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond memory brings the light
Of other days around me;
The smiles, the tears,
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimm'd and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain hath bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
When I remember all
The friends, so link'd together,
I've seen around me fall,
Like leaves in wintry weather;
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
This poem will probably mean very little to the younger person, but I am nearing retirement age, and the words ' The eyes that shone now dimmed and gone, the cheerful hearts now broken' refering to parents, and friends falling ' like leaves in wintry weather' are so poingant, I do think 'Oft in the stilly night.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
When we were in college and had to recite, this was a favorite, more so now at age 91. So few of us are now left......the banquet hall deserted.......but I have fond memories to sustain me. Thanks to mean old Prof. Haaggertyfor exposing us to the finer things we would enjoy in later years. .
Hi Joe at t 92 I know the feeling!