Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BIRTH OF VERSE, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BIRTH OF VERSE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Blind thoughts which occupy the brain
Last Line: "only the hand that wrote was mine."
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets


BLIND thoughts which occupy the brain,
Dumb melodies which fill the ear,
Dim perturbations, precious pain,
A gleam of hope, a chill of fear, --
These seize the poet's soul, and mould
The ore of fancy into gold.

And first no definite thought there is
In all that affluence of sound,
Like those sweet formless melodies
Piped to the listening woods around,
By birds which never teacher had
But love and knowledge: they are glad.

Till, when the chambers of the soul
Are filled with inarticulate airs,
A spirit comes which doth control
The music, and its end prepares;
And, with a power serene and strong,
Shapes these wild melodies to song.

Or haply, thoughts which glow and burn
A wait long time the fitting strain,
Which, swiftly swelling, seems to turn
The silence to a load of pain;
And somewhat in him seems to cry,
"I will have utterance, or I die!"

Then of a sudden, full, complete,
The strong strain bursting into sound,
Words come with rhythmic rush of feet,
Fit music girds the language round,
And with a comeliness unsought,
Appears the winged, embodied thought.

But howsoever they may rise,
Fit words and music come to birth;
There soars an angel to the skies,
There walks a Presence on the earth --
A something which shall yet inspire
Myriads of souls unborn with fire.

And when his voice is hushed and dumb,
The flame burnt out, the glory dead,
He feels a thrill of wonder come
At that which his poor tongue has said;
And thinks of each diviner line --
"Only the hand that wrote was mine."





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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