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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HERTHA, by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: I am the spirit of all that lives Last Line: The broken sob of the magdalen | |||
I am the spirit of all that lives, I am the spirit of all that lives, Labours and loses and forgives. Labours and loses and forgives. My breath's the wind among the reeds; My breath's the wind among the reeds; I'm wounded when a birch-tree bleeds. I'm wounded when a birch-tree bleeds. I am the clay nest 'neath the eaves I am the clay nest 'neath the eaves And the young life wherewith it brims. And the young life wherewith it brims. The silver minnow where it swims The silver minnow where it swims Under a roof of lily-leaves Under a roof of lily-leaves Beats with my pulses. From my eyes Beats with my pulses. From my eyes The violet gathered amethyst. The violet gathered amethyst. I am the rose of winter skies, I am the rose of winter skies, The moonlight conquering the mist. The moonlight conquering the mist. I am the bird the falcon strikes; My strength is in the kestrel's wing, I am the bird the falcon strikes; My cruelty is in the shrikes. My strength is in the kestrel's wing, My pity bids the dock-leaves grow Large, that a little child may know My cruelty is in the shrikes. Where he shall heal the nettle's sting. My pity bids the dock-leaves grow Large, that a little child may know I am the snowdrop and the snow, Dead amber, and the living fir- Where he shall heal the nettle's sting. The corn-sheaf and the harvester. I am the snowdrop and the snow, My craft is breathed into the fox Dead amber, and the living fir- The corn-sheaf and the harvester. When, a red cub, he snarls and plays With his red vixen. Yea, I am The wolf, the hunter, and the lamb; My craft is breathed into the fox I am the slayer and the slain, The thought new-shapen in the brain. When, a red cub, he snarls and plays With his red vixen. Yea, I am I am the ageless strength of rocks, The wolf, the hunter, and the lamb; The weakness that is all a grace Being the weakness of a flower. I am the slayer and the slain, The thought new-shapen in the brain. The secret on the dead man's face I am the ageless strength of rocks, Written in his last living hour, The weakness that is all a grace The endless trouble of the seas That fret and struggle with the shore, Being the weakness of a flower. Strive and are striven with evermore- The secret on the dead man's face The changeless beauty that they wear Written in his last living hour, The endless trouble of the seas Through all their changes; all of these That fret and struggle with the shore, Are mine. The brazen streets of hell Strive and are striven with evermore- I know, and heaven's gold ways as well. The changeless beauty that they wear Mortality, eternity, Through all their changes; all of these Change, death, and life are mine-are me. Are mine. The brazen streets of hell I know, and heaven's gold ways as well. Mortality, eternity, Change, death, and life are mine-are me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CONNAUGHT LAMENT by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER A SERVIAN LULLABY by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER APRIL IN IRELAND by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER DIRGE FOR AOINE by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER GOLD SONG by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER MO BOUCHALEEN BWEE (MY YELLOW-HAIRED LAD) by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER THE COLD WIND by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER THE FAIRY FIDDLER by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER THE FAIRY MUSIC by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER THE STRANGERS by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER |
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