Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DAY DREAMS, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Gazing through her chamber window Last Line: While I wondered what she meant. Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Variant Title(s): Reflection' Subject(s): Longing; Love; Peace; Soul | ||||||||
Gazing thro' her chamber window Sits my soul's dear soul; Looking northward, looking southward, Looking to the goal, Looking back without control. -- I have strewn thy path, beloved, With plumed meadowsweet, Iris and pale perfumed lilies, Roses most complete: Wherefore pause on listless feet? -- But she sits and never answers; Gazing gazing still On swift fountain, shadowed valley, Cedared sunlit hill: Who can guess or read her will? Who can guess or read the spirit Shrined within her eyes, Part a longing, part a languor, Part a mere surprize, While slow mists do rise and rise? -- Is it love she looks and longs for; Is it rest or peace; Is it slumber self-forgetful In its utter ease; Is it one or all of these? So she sits and doth not answer With her dreaming eyes, With her languid look delicious Almost Paradise, Less than happy, over wise. Answer me, O self-forgetful -- Or of what beside? -- Is it day dream of a maiden, Vision of a bride, Is it knowledge, love, or pride? Cold she sits thro' all my kindling, Deaf to all I pray: I have wasted might and wisdom, Wasted night and day: Deaf she dreams to all I say. Now if I could guess her secret Were it worth the guess? -- Time is lessening, hope is lessening, Love grows less and less: What care I for no or yes? -- I will give her stately burial, Tho', when she lies dead: For dear memory of the past time, Of her royal head, Of the much I strove and said. I will give her stately burial, Willow branches bent; Have her carved in alabaster, As she dreamed and leant While I wondered what she meant. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRUEL FALCON by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE WHOLE SOUL by PHILIP LEVINE I KNOW MY SOUL by CLAUDE MCKAY HONORING THE SAND; IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH CAMPBELL by ROBERT BLY THE CHINESE PEAKS; FOR DONALD HALL by ROBERT BLY THE LIFE OF TOWNS: TOWN OF THE EXHUMATION by ANNE CARSON IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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