Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO - [MISS BLACKETT] ON HER FIRST ASCENT ... HELVELLYN, by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Inmate of a mountain-dwelling Last Line: To confess their majesty! Subject(s): Mountain Climbing | ||||||||
INMATE of a mountain-dwelling, Thou hast clomb aloft, and gazed From the watch-towers of Helvellyn; Awed, delighted, and amazed! Potent was the spell that bound thee Not unwilling to obey; For blue Ether's arms, flung round thee, Stilled the pantings of dismay. Lo! the dwindled woods and meadows; What a vast abyss is there! Lo! the clouds, the solemn shadows, And the glistenings -- heavenly fair! And a record of commotion Which a thousand ridges yield; Ridge, and gulf, and distant ocean Gleaming like a silver shield! Maiden! now take flight; -- inherit Alps or Andes -- they are thine! With the morning's roseate Spirit, Sweep their length of snowy line; Or survey their bright dominions In the gorgeous colours drest Flung from off the purple pinions, Evening spreads throughout the west! Thine are all the coral fountains Warbling in each sparry vault Of the untrodden lunar mountains; Listen to their songs! -- or halt, To Niphates' top invited, Whither spiteful Satan steered; Or descend where the ark alighted, When the green earth re-appeared; For the power of hills is on thee, As was witnessed through thine eye Then, when old Helvellyn won thee To confess their majesty! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEFORE AND AFTER by CLARENCE MAJOR CLIMBING MILESTONE MOUNTAIN, AUGUST 22, 1937. by KENNETH REXROTH FOR THE BOY WHO WAS DODGER POINT LOOKOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO by GARY SNYDER AN ALPINE DESCENT by SAMUEL ROGERS ABER STATIONS: STATIO SEPTIMA by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN ABER STATIONS: STATIO SEXTA by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN A JEWISH FAMILY; IN A SMALL VALLEY OPPOSITE ST. GOAR by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |
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