Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PANG MORE SHARP THAN ALL; AN ALLEGORY, by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He too has flitted from his secret nest Last Line: Is kindness counterfeiting absent love! Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
I He too has flitted from his secret nest, Hope's last and dearest Child without a name! -- Has flitted from me, like the warmthless flame, That makes false promise of a place of rest To the tir'd Pilgrim's still believing mind; -- Or like some Elfin Knight in kingly court, Who having won all guerdons in his sport, Glides out of view, and whither none can find! II Yes! He hath flitted from me -- with what aim, Or why, I know not! 'Twas a home of bliss, And He was innocent, as the pretty shame Of babe, that tempts and shuns the menaced kiss, From its twy-cluster'd hiding place of snow! Pure as the babe, I ween, and all aglow As the dear hopes, that swell the mother's breast -- Her eyes down gazing o'er her clasped charge; -- Yet gay as that twice happy father's kiss, That well might glance aside, yet never miss, Where the sweet mark emboss'd so sweet a targe -- Twice wretched he who hath been doubly blest! III Like a loose blossom on a gusty night He flitted from me -- and has left behind (As if to them his faith he ne'er did plight) Of either sex and answerable mind Two playmates, twin-births of his foster-dame: -- The one a steady lad (Esteem he hight) And Kindness is the gentler sister's name. Dim likeness now, tho' fair she be and good, Of that bright Boy who hath us all forsook; -- But in his full-eyed aspect when she stood, And while her face reflected every look, And in reflection kindled -- she became So like Him, that almost she seem'd the same! IV Ah! He is gone, and yet will not depart! -- Is with me still, yet I from Him exil'd! For still there lives within my secret heart The magic image of the magic Child, Which there He made up-grow by his strong art, As in that crystal orb -- wise Merlin's feat, -- The wondrous `World of Glass', wherein inisl'd All long'd for things their beings did repeat; -- And there He left it, like a Sylph beguiled, To live and yearn and languish incomplete! V Can wit of man a heavier grief reveal? Can sharper pang from hate or scorn arise? -- Yes! one more sharp there is that deeper lies, Which fond Esteem but mocks when he would heal. Yet neither scorn nor hate did it devise, But sad compassion and atoning zeal! One pang more blighting-keen than hope betray'd! And this it is my woful hap to feel, When at her Brother's hest, the twin-born Maid With face averted and unsteady eyes, Her truant playmate's faded robe puts on; And inly shrinking from her own disguise Enacts the faery Boy that's lost and gone. O worse than all! O pang all pangs above Is Kindness counterfeiting absent Love! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD A CHILD'S EVENING PRAYER by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A DAY DREAM by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A THOUGHT SUGGESTED BY A VIEW, OF SADDLEBACK IN CUMBERLAND by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |
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