Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SEHNSUCHT, by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Whence are ye, vague desires Last Line: Than you. Subject(s): Duty | ||||||||
WHENCE are ye, vague desires, Which carry men along, However proud and strong; Which, having ruled to-day, To-morrow pass away? Whence are ye, vague desires? Whence are ye? Which women, yielding to, Find still so good and true; So true, so good to-day, To-morrow gone away, Whence are ye, vague desires? Whence are ye? From seats of bliss above, Where angels sing of love; From subtle airs around, Or from the vulgar ground, Whence are ye, vague desires? Whence are ye? A message from the blest, Or bodily unrest; A call to heavenly good, A fever in the blood: What are ye, vague desires? What are ye? Which men who know you best Are proof against the least, And rushing on to-day, To-morrow cast away. What are ye, vague desires? What are ye? Which women, ever new, Still warned, surrender to; Adored with you to-day, Then cast with you away, What are ye, vague desires? What are ye? Which unto boyhood's heart The force of man impart, And pass, and leave it cold, And prematurely old, What are ye, vague desires? What are ye? Which, tremblingly confest, Pour in the young girl's breast Joy, joy -- the like is none, And leave her then undone -- What are ye, vague desires? What are ye? An yet! though man be marred, Ignoble made, and hard; Though broken women lie In anguish down to die; Ah yet! ye vague desires, Ah yet! By Him who gave you birth, And blended you with earth, Was some good end designed For man and womankind; Ah yet! ye vague desires, Ah yet! The petals of to-day, To-morrow fallen away, Shall something heave instead, To live when they are dead; When you, ye vague desires, Have vanished; A something to survive, Of you though it derive Apparent earthly birth, But of far other worth Than you, ye vague desires, Than you. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEDICINE 2; FOR JOHN MURRAY by CAROLYN KIZER AND THEY OBEY by CARL SANDBURG STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING by ROBERT FROST BY THE RIVERS by SHIRLEY KAUFMAN TO LUCASTA, [ON] GOING TO THE WARS by RICHARD LOVELACE FOR THE UNION DEAD by ROBERT LOWELL WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING' by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH |
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