Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GOD-FORGOTTEN, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I towered far, and lo! I stood within Last Line: When trouble hovers nigh. Subject(s): God | ||||||||
I TOWERED far, and lo! I stood within The presence of the Lord Most High, Sent thither by the sons of Earth, to win Some answer to their cry. - 'The Earth, sayest thou? The Human race? By Me created? Sad its lot? Nay: I have no remembrance of such place: Such world I fashioned not.' - - 'O Lord, forgive me when I say Thou spakest the word that made it all.' - 'The Earth of men - let me bethink me.... Yea! I dimly do recall 'Some tiny sphere I built long back (Mid millions of such shapes of mine) So named ... It perished, surely - not a wrack Remaining, or a sign? 'It lost my interest from the first, My aims therefor succeeding ill; Haply it died of doing as it durst?' - 'Lord, it existeth still.' - 'Dark, then, its life! For not a cry Of aught it bears do I now hear; Of its own act the threads were snapt whereby Its plaints had reached mine ear. 'It used to ask for gifts of good, Till came its severance, self-entailed, When sudden silence on that side ensued, And has till now prevailed. 'All other orbs have kept in touch; Their voicings reach me speedily: Thy people took upon them overmuch In sundering them from me! 'And it is strange - though sad enough - Earth's race should think that one whose call Frames, daily, shining spheres of flawless stuff Must heed their tainted ball! ... 'But sayest it is by pangs distraught, And strife, and silent suffering? - Sore grieved am I that injury should be wrought Even on so poor a thing! 'Thou shouldst have learnt that Not to Mend For Me could mean but Not to Know: Hence, Messengers! and straightway put an end To what men undergo.' ... Homing at dawn, I thought to see One of the Messengers standing by. - Oh, childish thought! ... Yet often it comes to me When trouble hovers nigh. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOUNTAIN IS STRIPPED by DAVID IGNATOW AS CLOSE AS BREATHING by MARK JARMAN UNHOLY SONNET 1 by MARK JARMAN UNHOLY SONNET 13 by MARK JARMAN BIRTH-DUES by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE SILENT SHEPHERDS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GOING TO THE HORSE FLATS by ROBINSON JEFFERS AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM' by THOMAS HARDY |
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