Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE VALLEY OF ANOSTAN, by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: An orient legend, which hath all the light Last Line: But the fair archway of the gates of birth! Subject(s): Legends | ||||||||
[In AElian's "Various History," book iii., chapter xviii., the following legend, or parable, will be found. How vividly it recalls to us the words of the Master: "Unless ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven!"] AN Orient legend, which hath all the light And fragrance of the asphodels of heaven, Smiles on us from old Aelian's mellowed page; And thus it runs, smooth as the stream of joy Whereof it tells, yet with some discord blent, Which, hearkened rightly, makes the music true To man's mysterious instincts and his fate: In the strange valley of Anostan dwelt The far Meropes, through whose murmurous realm Two mighty rivers -- one a stream of joy, Divine and perfect; one a stream of bale -- Flowed side by side, 'twixt forest shades and flowers (Bright shades and sombre, poison flowers and pure), Down to a distant and an unknown sea. On either bank were fruit-trees and ripe fruit, Whereof men plucked and ate; but whoso ate Of the wan fruitage of the stream of bale Went ever after weeping gall for tears, Till death should find him; but whoe'er partook Of the rare fruitage of the stream of joy Straightway was lapped in such ecstatic peace, Such fond oblivion of all base desires, His soul grew fresh, dew-like, and sweet again, And through his past, his golden yesterdays, He wandered back and back, till youth, regained, Shone in the candid radiance of his eyes, That still waxed larger, holier, crystal-clear, With resurrection of life's tenderest dawn Of childlike faith; by which illumed and warmed, He walks, himself a dream within a dream, Yearning for infancy. This found at last, Gently he passes upward unto God, Not through death's portal, wrapped in storms and wrath, But the fair archway of the gates of birth! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GHOST OF DEACON BROWN by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON ICE SHALL COVER NINEVEH by KENNETH REXROTH MONUMENT MOUNTAIN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE STRANGER; AFTER A GUARANI LEGEND RECORDED BY ERNESTO MORALES by WILLIAM STANLEY MERWIN THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE GUERDON by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE LEGEND OF ARA-COELI by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A STORM IN THE DISTANCE (AMONG THE GEORGIAN HILLS) by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE |
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