Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NOCTURNE, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NOCTURNE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tis not my voice now speaks; but as a bird
Last Line: To that self's self it still is dreaming of.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): Love


'Tis not my voice now speaks; but as a bird
In darkling forest hollows a sweet throat --
Pleads on till distant echo too hath heard
And doubles every note:
So love that shrouded dwells in mystery
Would cry and waken thee.

Thou Solitary, stir in thy still sleep!
All the night waits thee, must thou still dream on?
Furtive the shadows that about thee creep,
And cheat the shining footsteps of the moon:
Unseal thine eyes, it is my heart that sings,
And beats in vain its wings.

Lost in heaven's vague, the stars burn softly through
The world's dark latticings, we prisoned stray
Within its lovely labyrinth, and know
Mute seraphs guard the way
Even from silence unto speech, from love
To that self's self it still is dreaming of.





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