Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PROPHET (1), by ALEKSANDR SERGEYEVICH PUSHKIN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I dragged my flesh through desert gloom Last Line: "burn thou men's hearts with this, my word." Alternate Author Name(s): Pushkin, Alexander; Poushkin, Aleksander Sergyevich Subject(s): Prophecy & Prophets | ||||||||
I dragged my flesh through desert gloom, Tormented by the spirit's yearning, And saw a six-winged Seraph loom Upon the footpath's barren turning. And as a dream in slumber lies So light his finger on my eyes, My wizard eyes grew wide and wary: An eagle's, startled from her eyrie. He touched my ears, and lo! a sea Of storming voices burst on me. I heard the whirling heavens' tremor, The angels' flight and soaring sweep, The sea-snakes coiling in the deep, The sap the vine's green tendrils carry. And to my lips the Seraph clung And tore from me my sinful tongue, My cunning tongue and idle-worded; The subtle serpent's sting he set Between my lipshis hand was wet, His bloody hand my mouth begirded. And with a sword he cleft my breast And took the heart with terror turning, And in my gaping bosom pressed A coal that throbbed there, black and burning. Upon the wastes, a lifeless clod, I lay, and heard the voice of God: "Arise, oh prophet, watch and hearken, And with my Will thy soul engird, Through lands that dim and seas that darken, Burn thou men's hearts with this, my Word." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEDITATION ON SAVIORS by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE PROPHET by LUCILLE CLIFTON THREE SONNETS by RICHARD WILBUR MERLIN'S PROPHESY by WILLIAM BLAKE SPELT FROM SIBYL'S LEAVES by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE NEW EZEKIEL by EMMA LAZARUS A WORM FED ON THE HEART OF CORINTH by ISAAC ROSENBERG SARAH'S CHOICE by ELEANOR WILNER A FRAGMENT FROM THE AGAMEMNON OF AESCHYLOS by AESCHYLUS WORK by ALEKSANDR SERGEYEVICH PUSHKIN |
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