Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BAGLEY WOOD by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE NIGHT IS FULL OF STARS, FULL OF MAGNIGICENCE
THE night is full of stars, full of magnificence:
The night is full of stars, full of magnificence:
Nightingales hold the wood, and fragrance loads the dark.
Nightingales hold the wood, and fragrance loads the dark.
Behold, what fires august, what lights eternal! Hark,
Behold, what fires august, what lights eternal! Hark,
What passionate music poured in passionate love's defence!
What passionate music poured in passionate love's defence!
Breathe but the wafting wind's nocturnal frankincense!
Breathe but the wafting wind's nocturnal frankincense!
Only to feel this night's great heart, only to mark
Only to feel this night's great heart, only to mark
The splendours and the glooms, brings back the patriarch,
The splendours and the glooms, brings back the patriarch,
Who on Chaldean wastes found God through reverence.
Who on Chald…an wastes found God through reverence.

Could we but live at will upon this perfect height,

Could we but always keep the passion of this peace,
Could we but live at will upon this perfect height,
Could we but face unshamed the look of this pure light,
Could we but always keep the passion of this peace,
Could we but win earth's heart, and give desire release:
Could we but face unshamed the look of this pure light,
Then were we all divine, and then were ours by right
Could we but win earth's heart, and give desire release:
These stars, these nightingales, these scents: then shame would cease.
Then were we all divine, and then were ours by right

These stars, these nightingales, these scents: then shame would cease.





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