Classic and Contemporary Poetry
I, CAEDMON, by LUTHER LAURENCE DOWRICK PRATT First Line: But a verveless tongue, and a rust-red pen Last Line: And sing as I can till the heavens fall! Alternate Author Name(s): Pratt, Laurence Subject(s): Caedmon (7th Century) | ||||||||
-- But a verveless tongue, and a rust-red pen, And a fog-dark brain -- I cry again I cannot voice the stars' mad choir, -- Revivify lad David's lyre To revelations Eden-sweet While Man and God and Satan meet. Soul of the moon, beg not of me To chime your lambent ecstasy. Spirit of wind, cease, cease demanding Paeans of pride, bright understanding. Heart of the sea, beat not my heart, Thrusting my close-shut lips apart. Djinns of the night and wraiths of the day, Make me not shout your pain away; Angels and devils, I cannot tell Your life in heaven, your death in hell; Must I, weak mortal, laugh and curse For a tortured, voiceless universe? I mumble and lisp, and my pen lies broken; My frail tongue quavers at each word spoken. I will not sing -- O torment! stay! Spirits, my masters, off! away! Cease scourging and rending! I'll mend my scrawl, And sing as I can till the heavens fall! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHRIST IN BRITAIN: 23. CAEDMON by THOMAS SAMUEL JONES JR. FERVENT HOUR by LUTHER LAURENCE DOWRICK PRATT THE WOOD MILL by LUTHER LAURENCE DOWRICK PRATT THE PAST IS THE PRESENT (2) by MARIANNE MOORE A MOMENT by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE SHERMAN'S IN SAVANNAH [DECEMBER 22, 1864] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES SIX O'CLOCK by TRUMBULL STICKNEY THE RIVER DUDDON: SONNET 34. AFTER-THOUGHT by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |
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