Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WIND AND THE MOON, by GEORGE MACDONALD Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Said the wind to the moon, 'I will blow you out Last Line: She had never heard the great wind blare. Subject(s): Conceit; Wind | ||||||||
SAID the Wind to the Moon, "I will blow you out, You stare In the air Like a ghost in a chair, Always looking what I am about I hate to be watched; I'll blow you out." The Wind blew hard, and out went the Moon. So, deep On a heap Of clouds to sleep, Down lay the Wind, and slumbered soon, Muttering low, "I've done for that Moon." He turned in his bed; she was there again! On high In the sky, With her one ghost eye, The Moon shone white and alive and plain. Said the Wind, "I will blow you out again." The Wind blew hard, and the Moon grew dim. "With my sledge, And my wedge, I have knocked off her edge! If only I blow right fierce and grim, The creature will soon be dimmer than dim." He blew and he blew, and she thinned to a thread "One puff More's enough To blow her to snuff! One good puff more where the last was bred, And glimmer, glimmer, glum will go the thread." He blew a great blast, and the thread was gone In the air Nowhere Was a moonbeam bare; Far off and harmless the shy stars shone Sure and certain the Moon was gone! The Wind he took to his revels once more; On down, In town, Like a merry-mad clown, He leaped and hallooed with whistle and roar "What's that?" The glimmering thread once more! He flew in a ragehe danced and blew; But in vain Was the pain Of his bursting brain; For still the broader the Moon-scrap grew, The broader he swelled his big cheeks and blew. Slowly she grewtill she filled the night, And shone On her throne In the sky alone, A matchless, wonderful silvery light, Radiant and lovely, the queen of the night. Said the Wind: "What a marvel of power am I! With my breath, Good faith! I blew her to death First blew her away right out of the sky Then blew her in; what strength have I!" But the Moon she knew nothing about the affair; For high In the sky, With her one white eye, Motionless, miles above the air, She had never heard the great Wind blare. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE WIND by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN LEAF LITTER ON ROCK FACE by HEATHER MCHUGH RESIDENTIAL AREA by JOSEPHINE MILES THE DAY THE WINDS by JOSEPHINE MILES VARIATIONS: 12 by CONRAD AIKEN OH IT'S PRETTY WINDY OUTSIDE by LARRY EIGNER LOST AND FOUND by GEORGE MACDONALD THAT HOLY THING by GEORGE MACDONALD THE BABY, FR. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND by GEORGE MACDONALD |
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