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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TIME, REAL AND IMAGINARY; AN ALLEGORY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Poet Analysis

First Line: ON THE WIDE LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN'S HEAD
Last Line: AND KNOWS NOT WHETHER HE BE FIRST OR LAST.
Subject(s): FABLES; TIME; ALLEGORIES;
ON the wide level of a mountain's head
(I knew not where, but 'twas some faery place),
Their pinions, ostrich-like, for sails outspread,
Two lovely children run an endless race,
A sister and a brother!
This far outstripp'd the other;
Yet ever runs she with reverted face,
And looks and listens for the boy behind:
For he, alas! is blind!
O'er rough and smooth with even step he pass'd,
And knows not whether he be first or last.



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