Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


BEYOND THE MOON by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY

Poet Analysis

First Line: MY SWEETHEART IS THE TRUTH BEYOND THE MOON
Last Line: AY, BEYOND HEAVEN AND HELL, I HAVE A GOAL!
Subject(s): LOVE;

[Written to the Most Beautiful Woman in the World]



My Sweetheart is the TRUTH BEYOND THE MOON,
And never have I been in love with Woman,
Always aspiring to be set in tune
With one who is invisible, inhuman.

O laughing girl, cold TRUTH has stepped between,
Spoiling the fevers of your virgin face:
Making your shining eyes but lead and clay,
Mocking your brilliant brain and lady's grace.

TRUTH haunted me the day I wooed and lost,
The day I wooed and won, or wooed in play:
Tho' you were Juliet or Rosalind,
Thus shall it be, forever and a day.

I doubt my vows, tho' sworn on my own blood,
Tho' I draw toward you weeping, soul to soul,
I have a lonely goal beyond the moon;
Ay, beyond Heaven and Hell, I have a goal!






Home: PoetryExplorer.net