Poem: “The Parting and the Coming Guest” by Henry Van Dyke

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American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Henry Van Dyke – Poems by Henry Van Dyke
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The Parting and the Coming Guest

Who watched the worn-out Winter die? Who, peering through the window-pane At nightfall, under sleet and rainSaw the old graybeard totter by?Who listened to his parting sigh, The sobbing of his feeble breath, His whispered colloquy with Death, And when his all of life was doneStood near to bid a last good-bye? Of all his former friends not oneSaw the forsaken Winter die.

Who welcomed in the maiden Spring? Who heard her footfall, swift and light As fairy-dancing in the night?Who guessed what happy dawn would bringThe flutter of her bluebird’s wing,The blossom of her mayflower-face To brighten every shady place? One morning, down the village street,“Oh, here am I,” we heard her sing,— And none had been awake to greetThe coming of the maiden Spring.

But look, her violet eyes are wet With bright, unfallen, dewy tears; And in her song my fancy hearsA note of sorrow trembling yet.Perhaps, beyond the town, she met Old Winter as he limped away To die forlorn, and let him lay His weary head upon her knee, And kissed his forehead with regret For one so gray and lonely,—see,Her eyes with tender tears are wet.

And so, by night, while we were all at rest,I think the coming sped the parting guest.

1873.

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American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Henry Van Dyke – Poems by Henry Van Dyke

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The Parting and the Coming Guest

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