Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE LAST RAY by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN

Poet Analysis

First Line: NOW THE WORLD GROWS WEAK AGAIN, THE SINEWED WOODS ARE ALL / ASTRAIN
Last Line: AND SNEERS AS ONE GREAT LAUGH OR GUST HUFFS DOWN THE WRITHING AVENUE.
Subject(s): ENGLAND; LANDSCAPE; ENGLISH;

Now the world grows weak again, the sinewed woods are all astrain,
And Tempest in his ecstasy on horn or pipe or harp or drum
Makes his mad asymphony; he runs like wild hogs, stops like a child,
Shrieks like a warning water-bird, and mutters @3fee@1 and @3fo@1 and @3fum.@1

Now through all this travail fierce one sunbeam does not fail to pierce
The spider-curtained darkness in the attic of black Jacob's farm,
And finds up there the purple phial that waits this glance: the sun's espial
Is not alone: the poor soul there espies as well the lurking charm.

@3Gods,@1 she cries, tiptoes and takes, and glaring opens, sniffs and shakes,
While on her soul the stormsong bursts, and groanings knell through roof and flue;
Clashing gloom is whirled across, she drinks, and smashes the cold glass,
And sneers as one great laugh or gust huffs down the writhing avenue.



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