Classic and Contemporary Poetry
RETROSPECT, by RUPERT BROOKE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In your arms was still delight Last Line: Mataiea, january 1914 Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; South Sea Islands | ||||||||
In your arms was still delight, Quiet as a street at night; And thoughts of you, I do remember, Were green leaves in a darkened chamber, Were dark clouds in a moonless sky. Love, in you, went passing by, Penetrative, remote, and rare, Like a bird in the wide air, And, as the bird, it left no trace In the heaven of your face. In your stupidity I found The sweet hush after a sweet sound. All about you was the light That dims the greying end of night; Desire was the unrisen sun, Joy the day not yet begun, With tree whispering to tree, Without wind, quietly. Wisdom slept within your hair, And Long-Suffering was there, And, in the flowing of your dress, Undiscerning Tenderness. And when you thought, it seemed to me, Infinitely, and like a sea, About the slight world you had known Your vast unconsciousness was thrown. . . . O haven without wave or tide! Silence, in which all songs have died! Holy book, where hearts are still! And home at length under the hill! O mother quiet, breasts of peace, Where love itself would faint and cease! O infinite deep I never knew, I would come back, come back to you, Find you, as a pool unstirred, Kneel down I should sleep! Mataiea, January 1914 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IDOLS by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON AN ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR AS IT WAS SUNG BEFORE HIS MAJESTY by LAWRENCE EUSDEN ARS POETICA: OR: WHO LIVES IN THE IVORY TOWER? by THOMAS MCGRATH 1914: 1. PEACE by RUPERT BROOKE 1914: 2. SAFETY by RUPERT BROOKE 1914: 3. THE DEAD by RUPERT BROOKE 1914: 4. THE DEAD by RUPERT BROOKE 1914: 5. THE SOLDIER by RUPERT BROOKE |
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