Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SOUTHAMPTON BELLS, by JOHN DRINKWATER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Long ago some builder thrust Last Line: Your way from brain to brain. Subject(s): Bells | ||||||||
I LONG ago some builder thrust Heavenward in Southampton town His spire and beamed his bells, Largely conceiving from the dust That pinnacle for ringing down Orisons and Noels. In his imagination rang, Through generations challenging His peal on simple men, Who, as the heart within him sang, In daily townfaring should sing By year and year again. II Now often to their ringing go The bellmen with lean Time at heel, Intent on daily cares; The bells ring high, the bells ring low, The ringers ring the builder's peal Of tidings unawares. And all the bells might well be dumb For any quickening in the street Of customary ears; And so at last proud builders come With dreams and virtues to defeat Among the clouding years. III Now, waiting on Southampton sea For exile, through the silver night I hear Noel! Noel! Through generations down to me Your challenge, builder, comes aright, Bell by obedient bell. You wake an hour with me; then wide Though be the lapses of your sleep You yet shall wake again; And thus, old builder, on the tide Of immortality you keep Your way from brain to brain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF: 3. FEEDING THE RABBITS by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF: 4. THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE HOURS; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: J. MILTON MILES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE SPIRE CRANES by DYLAN THOMAS KING DAVID by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET VICTORY BELLS by GRACE HAZARD CONKLING THE BELL by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES |
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