THE poet's imageries are noble ways, Approaches to a plot, an open shrine. Their splendours, colours, avenues, arrays, Their courts that run with wine; Beautiful similes, "fair and flagrant things," Enriched, enamouring, -- raptures, metaphors Enhancing life, are paths for pilgrim kings Made free of golden doors. And yet the open heavenward plot, with dew, Ultimate poetry, enclosed, enskyed (Albeit such ceremonies lead thereto) Stands on the yonder side. Plain, behind oracles, it is; and past All symbols, simple; perfect, heavenly-wild, The song some loaded poets reach at last -- The kings that found a Child. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE PROPOSAL TO ERECT A MONUMENT IN ENGLAND TO LORD BYRON by EMMA LAZARUS THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE VOICELESS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE TWO RABBIS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER RELIGIOUS ISOLATION, TO A REPUBLICAN FRIEND by MATTHEW ARNOLD STANZAS COMPOSED AT CARNAC by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE ALBION QUEENS, ACT 1: THE WONDER by JOHN BANKS (17TH CENTURY-) |