OLYMPIAN sunlight is the Poet's sphere; Yet of his rapt unconscious thought at play The wintry stream gave image but to-day, When first the frost his magic made appear; The darkling water dreamed, and mirrored clear, A thousand miles adown, the clouds' array, Nor any gleam or stirring did betray The secret of the transformation near -- When, lo! what beauty flashing from the night Of formless atoms! Nature stirs amain, Building her crystal arches firm and well, And framing fairy cantilevers bright. So broods the vision in the Poet's brain, And leaps to life beneath a kindred spell. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FAIREST THING IN MORTAL EYES by CHARLES D'ORLEANS THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON by ALEXANDER POPE BY WAY OF EXPLANATION by VIRGINIA A. ALLIN TO HIS DEAR FRIEND THOMAS RANDOLPH, ON HIS COMEDY 'THE JEALOUS LOVERS' by RICHARD BENEFIELD UNCHANGING by FRIEDRICH MARTIN VON BODENSTEDT GRAVE OF HOWARD by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES THE INN ALBUM: PART 1 by ROBERT BROWNING |