Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE EYE, by JOHN FREEMAN Poet's Biography First Line: It is not true that eyes Last Line: Hill pastures and reluming the green-caved wood. Subject(s): Adam & Eve; Bible; Eyes; Light; Eve | ||||||||
IT is not true that eyes Save in the trembling eyelids' fall and rise No meaning have. Did Eve Hide in dull orbs the Snake's guile, and deceive Adam with innocent stare? When David saw how Bathsheba was fair Burnt in his eyes no fire? Marked not the men-at-arms his flushed desire Sudden and swift upbrim, That not the falling eyelids' cloud could dim? And when Prince Absalon Hung by those fatal locks, and help was none, Under the nerveless lid How could his father's agony be hid? He heard the whisper, heard The hushing, the renewed whisper, the one word: And then was seen such gaze As between madness and first wild grief sways, Till "Absalon!" and no sound But "Absalon, my son, my son!" crept round. It is not true that eyes No meaning have but in the lids' fall and rise. I have seen terror leap Up from the spirit's unfathomable deep, Through unfixed eyeballs stare, Then shuddering sink back and lie snake-like there. I have seen honour look Swift under candid brows, when all else shook, Pouring in warm light through Eyes that from inward vision their seeing drew. And I know the fluttering look That first love flashes like a bird o'er a brook ... No lid so quick as to give Speed to the glances that with lightning live. And I know how the eyes, Nameless, look on me out of clear dawn skies And eve's unshadowy light Clear lidless eyes of pure immortal sight, Sweeping the million dew'd Hill pastures and reluming the green-caved wood. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I HAVE BEEN A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND' by RITA DOVE METAMORPHOSES: 1. ADAM by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM BALLAD OF HOW ADAM SAW IT by JOHN CIARDI NEVER AGAIN WOULD BIRDS' SONG BE THE SAME by ROBERT FROST |
|