Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SOTTO VOCE; TO EDWARD THOMAS, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The haze of noon wanned silver-grey Last Line: And we are laid abed.' Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter Subject(s): Thomas, Edward (1878-1917) | ||||||||
The haze of noon wanned silver-grey The soundless mansion of the sun: The air made visible in his ray, Like molten glass from furnace run, Quivered o'er heat-baked turf and stone And the flower of the gorse burned on -- Burned softly as gold of a child's fair hair Along each spiky spray, and shed Almond-like incense in the air Whereon our senses fed. At foot -- a few sparse harebells: blue And still as were the friend's dark eyes That dwelt on mine, transfixed through With sudden ecstatic surmise. 'Hst!' he cried softly, smiling, and lo, Stealing amidst that maze gold-green, I heard a whispering music flow From guileful throat of bird, unseen: -- So delicate the straining ear Scarce carried its faint syllabling Into a heart caught up to hear That inmost pondering Of bird-like self with self. We stood, In happy trance-like solitude, Hearkening a lullay grieved and sweet -- As when on isle uncharted beat 'Gainst coral at the palm-tree's root, With brine-clear, snow-white foam afloat, The wailing, not of water or wind -- A husht, far, wild, divine lament, When Prospero his wizardry bent Winged Ariel to bind. . . . Then silence, and o'er-flooding noon. I raised my head; smiled too. And he -- Moved his great hand, the magic gone -- Gently amused to see My ignorant wonderment. He sighed. 'It was a nightingale,' he said, 'That sotto voce cons the song He'll sing when dark is spread; And Night's vague hours are sweet and long, And we are laid abed.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TOOT BALDON, SELECTION by ANDREW MOTION HOMAGE TO EDWARD THOMAS by DEREK WALCOTT KILLED IN ACTION by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES TO E. T.: 1917 by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE ALL DAY IT HAS RAINED by ALUN LEWIS TO EDWARD THOMAS by ALUN LEWIS DEDICATIONS AND INSCRIPTIONS: 11. TO EDWARD THOMAS, WITH A PLAY by GORDON BOTTOMLEY EPITAPH FOR EDWARD THOMAS by JULIAN ABRAHAM ALL THAT'S PAST by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE |
|