SUDDENLY the other side of this world wide, Whose proud extent even conquering Steam allowed, Grew near as the garden-gate; no mountain then, No rosy-torturing desert, no dead lake, Nor jungle, whirlpool, jealous frontier stopped us. We moved within the wings of some ten words Into a most familiar country air, And like spring showers received it from the hills That stood from our old hills ten thousand miles -- Or none; we paused along the yellow plains, And kissed the child that ran from shyer friends To take our hand; and we could tell what passed In unknown language between old pouchy boat-men Among the huge bullrushes where for ever Dwells the uncaptured serpent six yards long, Whom the small fish warping the waters' brim Decline to notice. Then came orange-orchards, Rising above the sea-cliff's bridle-roads; And azure-flaming waves around rock-caves Whence the pine thrust its elbows; then the dirge Of sunless streams down cold black buttresses Of vaster porticoes hurled up at heaven; And then the patient mountain-stairs past peril, Triumphant in the eyrie of a hamlet That hears the constant silvering of the springs And smiles in the mountain-steep among its cherries Above the green air-crystal of the valley. We knew them, we had seen the lights of evening Moon-mimic here; and heard through dew-bells dim The strings that men cicada-like set murmuring. Here, cried our hearts, tune might be found at length, And all our dust laved in this garden of waters, Our hurry halted by these giant rocks, Whose coldness is a kindness, and above There should be purer beams from heaven; -- no distance, Sea, landslide, chasm, nor crossway of our life Divided us that moment from the unknown Pilgrimage singing in the stranger's mind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY by JOHN DRYDEN A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS BOY BRITTAN [FEBRUARY 8, 1862] by BYRON FORCEYTHE WILLSON LOVE AND COQUETRY by LEVI BISHOP TO A PERSIAN ROSE by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE FORTUNATUS NIMIUM by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES |