Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TALE OF MAD BRIGID, by JAMES STEPHENS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TALE OF MAD BRIGID, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: And then / there rung a bell
Last Line: Of some late-flying wren.
Subject(s): Brigid Of Ireland, Saint (453-523); God; Bridget, Saint; Brigit Of Kildare, Saint


And then
There rung a bell
Out of the evening air:
One big star fell
In a long golden flare
Through a great stillness,
And He was standing there.

There came a chillness
Creeping through me slow,
Nor could I know
That it was truly He
Who stood beside,
When, lo!
He smiled,
And I was made to know;
Nor hesitate
Because of His grave kingliness and state,
And steady eyes, and brows immaculate.

But then the weight
Of His too sudden glory bowed me down
Slow to the ground:
I feared that He might frown
Without a sound!
Or speak in fire!

Then He said "Sweet,"
And I was dumb;
I dared not come
Because of my desire:
And He went slow away --

And, from the grey
Cold evening,
Came the "tweet,"
-- Sad to my heart,
But infinitely sweet --
Of some late-flying wren.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net