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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON NEWS, by THOMAS TRAHERNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: News from a foreign country came Last Line: A small and little thing! Variant Title(s): News Subject(s): Innocence | |||
NEWS from a foreign country came As if my treasure and my wealth lay there; So much it did my heart inflame, 'Twas wont to call my Soul into mine ear; Which thither went to meet The approaching sweet, And on the threshold stood To entertain the unknown Good. It hover'd there As if 'twould leave mine ear, And was so eager to embrace The joyful tidings as they came, 'Twould almost leave its dwelling-place To entertain that same. As if the tidings were the things, My very joys themselves, my foreign treasure -- Or else did bear them on their wings -- With so much joy they came, with so much pleasure. My Soul stood at that gate To recreate Itself with bliss, and to Be pleased with speed. A fuller view It fain would take, Yet journeys back would make Unto my heart; as if 'twould fain Go out to meet, yet stay within To fit a place to entertain And bring the tidings in. What sacred instinct did inspire My soul in childhood with a hope so strong? What secret force moved my desire To expect my joys beyond the seas, so young? Felicity I knew Was out of view, And being here alone, I saw that happiness was gone From me! For this I thirsted absent bliss, And thought that sure beyond the seas, Or else in something near at hand -- I knew not yet -- since naught did please I knew -- my Bliss did stand. But little did the infant dream That all the treasures of the world were by: And that himself was so the cream And crown of all which round about did lie. Yet thus it was: the Gem, The Diadem, The ring enclosing all That stood upon this earthly ball, The Heavenly eye, Much wider than the sky, Wherein they all included were, The glorious Soul, that was the King Made to possess them, did appear A small and little thing! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HORATIAN VIRTUE by ANTHONY HECHT MONOLOGUE BEFORE AN INNOCENT BEING PRISONED IN A TREE by MARY KINZIE THE EROTIC PHILOSOPHERS by KIZER. CAROLYN THE LANDLADY OF THE WHINTON INN TELLS A STORY by AMY LOWELL THE SUBCULTURE OF THE WRONGLY ACCUSED by THYLIAS MOSS |
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