Jocund

Sad to think that, for the first time in the last one hundred and eight years, she would not be here in Hemingford Home to see the time of the change as summer gave in to pagan, jocund autumn.

My life and recitative, containing birth, youth, mid-age years, Fitful as motley-tongues of flame, inseparably twined and merged in one—combining all, My single soul—aims, confirmations, failures, joys—Nor single soul alone, I chant my nation’s crucial stage, (America’s, haply humanity’s)—the trial great, the victory great, A strange éclaircissement of all the masses past, the eastern world, the ancient, medieval, Here, here from wanderings, strayings, lessons, wars, defeats—here at the west a voice triumphant—justifying all, A gladsome pealing cry—a song for once of utmost pride and satisfaction; I chant from it the common bulk, the general average horde, (the best no sooner than the worst)—And now I chant old age, (My verses, written first for forenoon life, and for the summer’s, autumn’s spread, I pass to snow-white hairs the same, and give to pulses winter-cool’d the same;) As here in careless trill, I and my recitatives, with faith and love, Wafting to other work, to unknown songs, conditions, On, on, ye jocund twain!

Slim Lacon keeps a goat for thee, For thee the jocund shepherds wait; O Singer of Persephone!

Such whelming greatness dwarfed us, stripped off the cloak of laughter in which we had ridden over the jocund flats.

“They have no consciousness of us.” The jocund travellers came on; and as they came, Scrooge knew and named them every one.

He got so thoroughly into the jocund spirit that he didn’t much mind seeing Tanis drooping against the shoulder of the youngest and milkiest of the young men, and he himself desired to hold Carrie Nork’s pulpy hand, and dropped it only because Tanis looked angry.

Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.

What did they understand by jocund military references to “that Suhrawardy, who always opposed the Pakistan Idea”—or to Noon, “who should have been called Sunset, what?” And through discussions of election-rigging and black-money, what undercurrent of danger permeated their skins, making the downy hairs on their arms stand on end?

Satiate at length, And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, Thus to herself she pleasingly began: “O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees In Paradise!