What moves that lonely man is not the boom Of waves that break against the cliff so strong; Nor roar of thunder, when that travelling voice Is caught by rocks that carry far along. 'Tis not the groan of oak tree in its prime, When lightning strikes its solid heart to dust; Nor frozen pond when, melted by the sun, It suddenly doth break its sparkling crust. What moves that man is when the blind bat taps His window when he sits alone at night; Or when the small bird sounds like some great beast Among the dead, dry leaves so frail and light; Or when the moths on his night-pillow beat Such heavy blows he fears they'll break his bones; Or when a mouse inside the papered walls, Comes like a tiger crunching through the stones. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FETES GALANTES: PANYOMIME by PAUL VERLAINE THE LAST WISH by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON ON CATULLUS by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW (SEPTEMBER 25, 1857) by ROBERT TRAILL SPENCE LOWELL A PIPER by JAMES SULLIVAN STARKEY |