Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN THE UNDERWORLD by ISAAC ROSENBERG

Poet Analysis

First Line: I HAVE LIVED IN THE UNDERWORLD SO LONG
Last Line: GRAZED THE DARK WAVES AND SHIVERING FURTHER FLEW.
Subject(s): SOLDIERS' WRITINGS;
I have lived in the underworld so long:
How can you, a creature of light,
Without terror understand the song
And unmoved hear what moves in night?

I am a spirit that yours has found,
Strange, undelightful, obscure,
Created by some other God, and bound
In terrible darkness, breathing breath impure.

Creature of light and happiness,
Deeper the darkness was when you,
With your bright terror eddying the distress,
Grazed the dark waves and shivering further flew.




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