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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SHADOW AND LIGHT, by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Cease, empty faith, the spectrum saith Last Line: Am not, whate'er I seem. | |||
CEASE, empty Faith, the Spectrum saith, I was, and lo, have been; I, God, am nought: a shade of thought, Which, but by darkness seen, Upon the unknown yourselves have thrown, Placed it and light between. At morning's birth on darkened earth, And as the evening sinks, Awfully vast abroad is cast The lengthened form that shrinks And shuns the sight in midday light, And underneath you slinks. From barren strands of wintry lands Across the seas of time, Borne onward fast ye touch at last An equatorial clime; In equatorial noon sublime At zenith stands the sun, And lo, around, far, near, are found Yourselves, and Shadow none. A moment! yea! but when the day At length was perfect day! A moment! so! and light we know With dark exchanges aye, Nor morn nor eve shall shadow leave Your sunny paths secure, And in your sight that orb of light Shall humbler orbs obscure. And yet withal, 'tis shadow all Whate'er your fancies dream, And I (misdeemed) that was, that seemed, Am not, whate'er I seem. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN A LECTURE-ROOM by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH NATURA NATURANS by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH QUA CURSUM VENTUS by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH SONGS IN ABSENCE: 7. THE SHIP by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH THE LATEST DECALOGUE by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH A LONDON IDYLL by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH A PROTEST by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH A RIVER POOL by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH A SLEEPING CHILD by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH |
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