When I have passed away and am forgotten,
And no one living can recall my face,
When under alien sod my bones lie rotten
With not a tree or stone to mark the place;
Perchance a pensive youth, with passion burning,
For olden verse that smacks of love and wine,
The musty pages of old volumes turning,
May light upon a little song of mine,
And he may softly hum the tune and wonder
Who wrote the verses in the long ago;
Or he may sit him down awhile to ponder
Upon the simple words that touch him so.
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Great Poem
From guest Cristie (contact)
I think more of his poems should be up here and i also think this poem is true in many ways that other people realize to face. When you think about it this poem has a lot of meaning to im sure of many people. More poems of his would be great. I would also like to say that you should ask people and send them more poems of his that they like to have them emailed ta an account of some sort. Thanks for the great poem. -
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Great
This is a very nice simple and sweet poem, the poetic beauty of the expression can be seen specially in the start of second stanza, the word ' Perchance'
this is how a poet thinks, 'would that' and 'Perchance' are there favorite words. -
The dream of the writer in me, that someone in time to come may read and enjoy what I write today. Love this poem. It's a heartwarming reflection on what may come to pass.
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Claude McKay was a wonderful poet. He came from Jamaica and travelled to America, his writings that i am accustomed to are in broken English and i very much love his passion for his much loved and missed country of Jamaica. He wrote of the treatment of Black people in America that he wasn’t aware of until he travelled there he was an outstanding poet and i recommend his works to anyone they are beautiful, sad and heartwarming.
This is a wonderful piece too.
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I choose to think of this as an optimistic piece. The poet mat be contemplating his own physical mortality but is considering the chances of the literary immortality of his work if not his name.
I like that idea myself. -
From guest queenie (contact)
i am truly pleased that this has reached me and i am inspired by the prufundity of it and the wisdom of introspection it reflects. -
The somberness of these words makes me feel that we must all live to the fullest, and strike chords in hearts so that our written notions last forever. This is simply beautifully written, and quite the lyrical poem. Even in benevolence, there is joy. I suspect all those who write poetry, somehow hope that their words last throughout the ages. I love the work of Claude McKay!
Renee
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I could not agree more writers wish to be remembered, and this wish of McKay's to touch the future with our words, reach out to someone and share a thought from their distant past, wisdom that ripens with age; and your comment reflects this and your poetry raises it to another power...excellent...PK
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Simply brilliant, this is what I think of when I read a poem the past that really touches my heart and soul. I wonder about the poet and what inspired him to write such a compelling piece of poetry. This was great and really touched me.
Avril
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