Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AQUAE SULIS, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The chimes called midnight, just at interlune Last Line: And the boiling voice of the waters' medicinal pour. Subject(s): Bath, England | ||||||||
THE chimes called midnight, just at interlune, And the daytime parle on the Roman investigations Was shut to silence, save for the husky tune The bubbling waters played near the excavations. And a warm air came up from underground, And the flutter of a filmy shape unsepulchred, That collected itself, and waited, and looked around: Nothing was seen, but utterances could be heard: Those of the Goddess whose shrine was beneath the pile Of the God with the baldachined altar overhead: 'And what did you win by raising this nave and aisle Close on the site of the temple I tenanted? 'The notes of your organ have thrilled down out of view To the earth-clogged wrecks of my edifice many a year, Though stately and shining once - ay, long ere you Had set up crucifix and candle here. 'Your priests have trampled the dust of mine without rueing, Despising the joys of man whom I so much loved, Though my springs boil on by your Gothic arcades and pewing, And sculptures crude.... Would Jove they could be removed!' 'Repress, O lady proud, your traditional ires; You know not by what a frail thread we equally hang; It is said we are images both - twitched by people's desires; And that I, as you, fail like a song men yesterday sang!' 'What - a Jumping-jack you, and myself but a poor Jumping-jill, Now worm-eaten, times agone twitched at Humanity's bid? O I cannot endure it! - But, chance to us whatso there will, Let us kiss and be friends! Come, agree you?' - None heard if he did.... And the olden dark hid the cavities late laid bare, And all was suspended and soundless as before, Except for a gossamery noise fading off in the air, And the boiling voice of the waters' medicinal pour. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LETTER TO MISS E.B. AT BATH by MARY SAVAGE NEW BATH GUIDE, SELS by CHRISTOPHER ANSTEY VERSES ON THE SPRINGS AT BATH by ? GROVES AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM' by THOMAS HARDY MEN WHO MARCH AWAY' (SONG OF THE SOLDIERS) by THOMAS HARDY A BROKEN APPOINTMENT by THOMAS HARDY A CHRISTMAS GHOST-STORY; CHRISTMAS-EVE 1899 by THOMAS HARDY A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS by THOMAS HARDY |
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