Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WHISPERER, by JAMES STEPHENS Poet's Biography First Line: The moon was round Last Line: To write this strain! Subject(s): Anger; God | ||||||||
The moon was round! And, as I walked along, There was no sound, Save where the wind with long, Low hushes, whispered to the ground A snatch of song. No thought had I Save that the moon was fair, And fair the sky, And God was everywhere: I chanted, as the wind went by, A poet's prayer. Then came a voice -- Why is it that you praise And why rejoice, O stranger to the ways Of Providence? God has no choice In this sad maze! -- His law He laid Down at the dread beginnings, When He made The world and set it spinning; And His casual hand betrayed Us into sinning. -- I fashion you; And then, for weal or woe, My business through I care not how ye go, Or struggle, win or lose, nor do I want to know. -- Is no appeal, For I am far from sight; And cannot feel The rigour of your plight; And if ye faint just when ye kneel, That, too, is right! -- Then do not sing, O poet in the night! That everything Is beautiful and right: What if a wind come now and fling At thee its spite! All in amaze I listened to the tone Mocking my praise: And then I heard the moan That all tormented nature did upraise: From tree and stone! And, as I went, I heard it once again, That harsh lament! And fire came to my brain! Deep anger unto me was lent To write this strain! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOUNTAIN IS STRIPPED by DAVID IGNATOW AS CLOSE AS BREATHING by MARK JARMAN UNHOLY SONNET 1 by MARK JARMAN UNHOLY SONNET 13 by MARK JARMAN BIRTH-DUES by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE SILENT SHEPHERDS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GOING TO THE HORSE FLATS by ROBINSON JEFFERS |
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