The Maiden caught me in the Wild, Where I was dancing merrily; She put me into her Cabinet And Lock'd me up with a golden Key. This Cabinet is form'd of Gold And Pearl & Crystal shining bright, And within it opens into a World And a little lovely Moony Night. Another England there I saw, Another London with its Tower, Another Thames & other Hills, And another pleasant Surrey Bower, Another Maiden like herself, Translucent, lovely, shining clear, Threefold each in the other clos'd -- O, what a pleasant trembling fear! O, what a smile! a threefold Smile Fill'd me, that like a flame I burn'd; I bent to Kiss the lovely Maid, And found a Threefold Kiss return'd. I strove to seize the inmost Form With ardor fierce & hands of flame, But burst the Crystal Cabinet, And like a Weeping Babe became -- A weeping Babe upon the wild, And Weeping Woman pale reclin'd, And in the outward air again I fill'd with woes the passing Wind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...APOLOGIA PRO POEMATE MEO by WILFRED OWEN THE NICEST STORY by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN IRREPARABLENESS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING PARLEYINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE OF IMPORTANCE: CHRISTOPHER SMART by ROBERT BROWNING CONTRASTS by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON WORDS OF PARTING by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. O TENDER HEART by EDWARD CARPENTER |