Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HOUSE OF SPLENDOUR by EZRA POUND

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: TIS EVANOE'S, / A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS
Last Line: BREAK DOWN THE FOUR-SQUARE WALLS OF STANDING TIME.
'Tis Evanoe's,
A house not made with hands,
But out somewhere beyond the worldly ways
Her gold is spread, above, around, inwoven;
Strange ways and walls are fashioned out of it.

And I have seen my Lady in the sun,
Her hair was spread about, a sheaf of wings,
And red the sunlight was, behind it all.

And I have seen her there within her house,
With six great sapphires hung along the wall,
Low, panel-shaped, a-level with her knees,
And all her robe was woven of pale gold.

There are there many rooms and all of gold,
Of woven walls deep patterned, of email,
Of beaten work; and through the claret stone,
Set to some weaving, comes the aureate light.

Here am I come perforce my love of her,
Behold mine adoration
Maketh me clear, and there are powers in this
Which, played on by the virtues of her soul,
Break down the four-square walls of standing time.



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