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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE VISION by VICTOR MARIE HUGO

First Line: ALOFT A WHITE-ROBED ANGEL I BEHELD
Last Line: I SAW THE STARRY MULTITUDES ABLAZE.
Subject(s): ANGELS; LOVE; VISION;

ALOFT a white-robed angel I beheld;
His splendour the loud tempest's anger quelled
And won to silence the far murmuring sea.
"Why comest thou, angel, this dark night to me?"
I asked him. He replied, "Thy soul to take."
I trembled for in woman's guise he spake,
And with my hands stretched orth to him, I said
"What shall be left me when thou shalt be fled?"
He answered not, but all the heaven grew dim,
O'erwhelmed with shadow. Thereon I cried to him
"Where wilt thou bear me? Show me in what place."
Still was he silent. "O farer thro' blue space,
Art Death or Life?" I cried. Thereon did roll
All night's deep shadow o'er my ravished soul;
The angel form grown dim said "Lo! I am Love."
But his dark brow was fair as day's. Above,
Thro' his wide wings, beyond his shadowy gaze,
I saw the starry multitudes ablaze.



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