Famous quotes containing the words swan song, thomas, chatterton, swan and/or song:
“The Teutons have been singing the swan song ever since they entered the ranks of history. They have always confounded truth with death.”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)
“There is not any book
Or face of dearest look
That I would not turn from now
To go into the unknown
I must enter, and leave, alone,
I know not how.”
—Edward Thomas (1878–1917)
“Liste! now the thunder’s rattling clymmynge sound
Cheves slowlie on, and then embollen clangs,
Shakes the hie spyre, and losst, dispended, drown’d,
Still on the gallard eare of terroure hanges;
The windes are up; the lofty elmen swanges;
Again the levynne and the thunder poures,
And the full cloudes are braste attenes in stonen showers.”
—Thomas Chatterton (1752–1770)
“When the swan must fix his eye
Upon a fading gleam,
Float out upon a long
Last reach of glittering stream
And there sing his last song.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“Lest all the song notes
pause and break
across a blood-stained throat
gone songless,
turn back.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)