Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PAST AND PRESENT by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES

Poet Analysis

First Line: I WHO HAVE SEEN A TINY CLOUD
Last Line: SCRATCHED BY A LITTLE PIN OR THORN.
Subject(s): DROWNING; SEA VOYAGES;
I who have seen a tiny cloud,
No bigger than my Lady's puff,
Powder the Heavens with miles of soot,
And make the seas all wild and rough;

I who have seen that speck at last
Sink half a fleet and drown its men,
With waves, like eagles, swooping down
To carry off both sheep and pen;

I who have felt and seen all this,
And trained my thoughts to quiet scorn —
Am still the man to dress Love's finger,
Scratched by a little pin or thorn.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net