Classic and Contemporary Poetry
STRANGE MULTITUDE, by JOHN FREEMAN Poet's Biography First Line: Because the way was long Last Line: Out of a dark sea unsubdued. Subject(s): Nature | ||||||||
BECAUSE the way was long, The day was long, And shadows small upon the road And dead-and-alive the river flowed Thin willow branches under, And talk hung slow and silent song; Because the heat-waves danced And dazed eyes glanced Half blind from rustling field to field, While heavily the path we heel'd Leaving the lazy river, And knew nor cared whereon we chanced; It seemed, there on the hill, The world fell still. From the wide hemisphere all round No beast, no bird, no stir of sound All hushed yet all uneasy. Silence so full I feared to spill. O then for that far bubbling, Youth's note untroubling, Simple and single changing note Quick poured from a dreaming throat; Or clear belfry music Far falling and in falling doubling. It seemed, there on the hill, Where all hung still, Awaked wild music of a multitude; And far fond melodies, renewed From ages long forgotten, Did from my heart's brimmed fountain spill; And flowing all around Fed that harsh ground With flowers and trembling leaf and shade That to the minging music played; And the winds fingered Invisible strings to aery sound. With voices well I knew, Light, soft as dew, Came thundered notes I had not known, Far-thundered, low, of solemn tone, And shrill wild calling From flushing altar'd avenue; And secret lonely sighing Of hopes undying, Piercing the liquid fall of flutes, Clangour of drums, Love's jarring lutes; Wrangling, commingling, Note to note, dust unto dust replying. O hidden strange multitude Out of death renewed! From my heart and the centuries Buried in me your songs and sighs Spring as a tempest Out of a dark sea unsubdued. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INTERRUPTED MEDITATION by ROBERT HASS TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS THE FATALIST: HOME by LYN HEJINIAN WRITING IS AN AID TO MEMORY: 17 by LYN HEJINIAN LET US GATHER IN A FLOURISHING WAY by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA IN MICHAEL ROBINS?ÇÖS CLASS MINUS ONE by HICOK. BOB BREADTH. CIRCLE. DESERT. MONARCH. MONTH. WISDOM by JOHN HOLLANDER VARIATIONS: 16 by CONRAD AIKEN |
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