SonnetOnTheDeathOfRobertRiddell

sonnetonthedeathofrobertriddell

ofglenriddellandfriars'carse.

nomore,yewarblersofthewood!nomore;

norpouryourdescantgratingonmysoul;

thouyoung-eyedspring!gayinthyverdantstole,

morewelcomeweretomegrimwinter'swildestroar.

howcanyecharm,yeflowers,withallyourdyes?

yeblowuponthesodthatwrapsmyfriend!

howcanitothetunefulstrainattend?

thatstrainflowsroundtheuntimelytombwhereriddelllies.

yes,pour,yewarblers!pourthenotesofwoe,

andsoothethevirtuesweepingo'erhisbier:

themanofworth—andhathnotlefthispeer!

isinhis“narrowhouse,”foreverdarklylow.

thee,spring!againwithjoyshallothersgreet;

me,memoryofmylosswillonlymeet.