Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A THUNDER STORM, by WILLIAM COWPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The sky begins to lower and thick'ning clouds Last Line: And harmony once more revisits earth. | ||||||||
THE Sky begins to lower and thick'ning Clouds Portend a speedy storm, the Vocal tribes No longer Sonnets sing; all, all are mute; The Beasts forbear to graze and seek the shade: Yon herd of Swinesee, see how fast they run; 'Tis said they see the Wind A solemn and awful silence now prevails, Save when the breeze the Thunder's harbinger Just rustles through the Grove: on ev'ry brow A dark despondence reigns, and hark! it comes; I heard the sudden roar,my Soul, be calm, Look up and view its progress, be serene, Calm and collected, as becomes a Man. Again it roarsand now the Lightning flies; Not faster flies the timid Hare from Hounds; Nor from the victor flies the vanquish'd Foe, Than Trav'llers seek for Shelter; e'en my Dog Cow'rs at my feet and looks up for protection. And now 'tis dreadful trulyHeav'n and Earth, How hard it rains! the Atmosphere's on fire! Chaos presides! Confusion quite surrounds me! Yet, yet again the broad expanded glare Of vivid Lightning flashes o'er the Plain Leaving a sulph'rous stench; Heav'ns what a Peal! Still; still it roars incessant! What to this The din of armies on the hostile Plain? An Atom to a Mountain. See the sky opensshutsand forky fires Dart oblique to the Earth; and o'er my Head Tempest rides forward on the Whirlwind's wing: Still the Almighty flashes for his Spear; His Chariot wheels most awfully resound: Well! be it so, my Soul: consoling thought! He is thy maker and, I trust, thy friend; Then wherefore tremble, wherefore shudder thus? No, I will cease to fear, tho' even now The Ear of Nature feels so strong a Shock As scarce before it felt: yet as a Man, A Christian Man, I shudder now no more. When God in Thunder spoke from Sinai's mount, Israel approach'd with Awe; if Moses then Could mediate for the People, and avert The great Jehovah's anger, sure his Son, The fam'd Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, Can ransom from his wrath and reconcile. But oh! my Soul how poor a Portrait this! How weak the Colours and how faint th' Idea, Of what one day thou must be a Spectator! Oh! bright and blessed morning to the Just! Oh! Day of doom, of infinite distress, To those who unprepar'd Messiah meet; When thron'd in Clouds, surrounded by the Host Of Heav'n, worshipping, the Judge descends: Consummate Triumph. Hark! the Trumpet sounds, The Breath of Michael blows th' Amazing blast; The Dead arise, the Living all are Chang'd, And Adam's family appear before Him. Amid that throng, in that Assembly vast, Must thou, my soul, appear and there receive A Plaudit glorious or Silence sad: Sink deep in Thought, Oh, deeper, deeper still: May it ne'er be forgotten, on my Couch Be it my dreaming subject; when awake, Oh! be it still remember'd: for its worth What tongue can speak, or any language tell? Then from this hour deep on my heart engraved Be all my duty needful; Ha! that blaze, That Shock tremendous that appals me thus Says I am not prepar'dbut I submit; No more will I rebel against thy sway Nor dispute thy dominion, Gracious God! My sins shall suffer, and by Grace divine I will forsake them all and trust alone For true felicity, for pleasure high, To Thee: who only can true pleasure give. The Storm abatesless too the Thunder roars, The Vault of Heav'n grows brighter, and the Sun Strives to Emerge from yonder dusky Cloud; More faint the flashes growand distant fly; Nature resumes her charms, and from the Grove Musick again is heard: the Warblers there Attempt a feeble strain: The Dog Star now Throws his warm beams around the weeping Scene; Salubrious Zephyrs gently fan the Air: Love, Life, and Joy return by due degrees And Harmony once more revisits Earth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COMPARISON [ADDRESSED] TO A YOUNG LADY by WILLIAM COWPER BOADICEA; AN ODE by WILLIAM COWPER EPITAPH ON A HARE by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 1. WALKING WITH GOD by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 18. LOVEST THOU ME? by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 35. LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 49. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 9. THE CONTRITE HEART by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE DEATH OF MRS. (NOW LADY) THROCKMORTON'S BULLFINCH by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE RECEIPT OF MY MOTHER'S PICTURE [OUT OF NORFOLK] by WILLIAM COWPER |
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