Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MYSTERY, by JOHN COWPER POWYS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MYSTERY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Can you not hear the sobbing in the night
Last Line: And passes, as though it had not heard.
Subject(s): Hate; Night; Sea; Silence; Time; Bedtime; Ocean


Can you not hear the sobbing in the night,
You pools of Silence?
Can you not hear the wailing on the wind,
You shores of Silence?
The stones we walk over,
The roots we uncover,
The grass by the way,
And the flames of the day,
In the same accents dolorous
Cry to the mystery over us.

Can you not hear the voices in the sea,
You isles of Silence?
Can you not hear the murmur in the trees,
You glades of Silence?
The shells that we break,
The fish that we take,
The moss that we tread,
And the graves of our dead,
In the same accents dolorous
Cry to the mystery over us.

Can you not hear the moaning in the reeds,
You banks of Silence?
Can you not hear the sighing in the sand,
You stones of Silence?
The bubbles that sink,
The stars that wink,
The rocks that crumble,
And the feet that stumble,
In the same accents dolorous
Cry to the mystery over us.

Can you not hear the rustling wings of love,
You caves of Silence?
Can you not hear the flapping wings of hate,
You towers of Silence?
The souls that are white
With the moons of night,
And the souls that are red
With the sun's blood shed,
In the same accents dolorous
Cry to the mystery over us.

Can you not hear the ticking clock of time,
You halls of Silence?
Can you not hear life's swift alternate rhyme,
You roofs of Silence?
The feet of desire,
And the lips of fire,
The hand that clings,
And the tongue that stings,
In the same accents dolorous
Cry to the mystery over us.
But the mystery answers not a word;
And passes, as though it had not heard.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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