Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE POET, by CORA RANDALL FABBRI


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POET, by                    
First Line: Does the poet understand what the nightingale
Last Line: Do you, poet?
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets


DOES the poet understand what the nightingale at night
Sweetly sings?
Pouring out her secret heart to the pure and pale moonlight?
Does he understand the meaning of the singing
That is ringing
Ev'rywhere
On the air?

Does the poet comprehend what the pearl pinklinèd shell
Murmurs faint?
Does it tell him all the secrets that the foamtouched wavelets tell,
As they fling their arms caressing on the gleaming,
Golden, beaming,
Shell-strewn floor
Of the shore?

Does the poet hear the secrets of the fair-lipped flowers sweet?
What they say
To each other? Does he listen while we tread them 'neath our feet,
Just to hear the fragrant whisper—catch the meaning
Of the leaning
Roses red
In their bed?

Does the poet hear the song through the music of the stream
Fresh and clear,
As it ripples, dances on—on to meet the gold sunbeam,
Which is waiting 'mid the shadows that are lying
In the sighing
Weeping willow
Near the billow?

Tell us, poet, are you gifted that these things you understand,
And can read
Nature's poems in the book she holds within her hand?
And for us who cannot open it or read it
You repeat it,
That we know it?
Do you, poet?





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net