At a Lunar Eclipse
Thy shadow, Earth, from Pole to Central Sea,
Now steals along upon the Moon’s meek shine
In even monochrome and curving line
Of imperturbable serenity.
How shall I link such sun-cast symmetry
With the torn troubled form I know as thine,
That profile, placid as a brow divine,
With continents of moil and misery?
And can immense Mortality but throw
So small a shade, and Heaven’s high human scheme
Be hemmed within the coasts yon arc implies?
Is such the stellar gauge of earthly show,
Nation at war with nation, brains that teem,
Heroes, and women fairer than the skies?





Related poetry:
- On An Eclipse Of The Moon Struggling, and faint, and fainter didst thou wane, O Moon! and round thee all thy starry train Came forth to […]...
- The Tenants Of The Little Box Throw into the little box A stone You’ll take out a bird Throw in your shadow You’ll take out the […]...
- Tonight I Can Write Tonight I can write the saddest lines. Write, for example, ‘The night is starry And the stars are blue and […]...
- To The University Of Cambridge, In New-England WHILE an intrinsic ardor prompts to write, The muses promise to assist my pen; ‘Twas not long since I left […]...
- Saddest Poem I can write the saddest poem of all tonight. Write, for instance: “The night is full of stars, And the […]...
- The Weeping I have shut my windows. I do not want to hear the weeping. But from behind the grey walls. Nothing […]...
- Cacoethes Scribendi If all the trees in all the woods were men; And each and every blade of grass a pen; If […]...
- She dealt her pretty words like Blades She dealt her pretty words like Blades How glittering they shone And every One unbared a Nerve Or wantoned with […]...
- There Are Not Many Kingdoms Left I write the lips of the moon upon her shoulders. In a Temple of silvery farawayness I guard her to […]...
- Temporary Poem Of My Time Hebrew writing and Arabic writing go from east to west, Latin writing, from west to east. Languages are like cats: […]...
- Roscoe Purkapile She loved me. Oh! how she loved me! I never had a chance to escape From the day she first […]...
- Time Unfathomable Sea! whose waves are years, Ocean of Time, whose waters of deep woe Are brackish with the salt of […]...
- Mrs. Purkapile He ran away and was gone for a year. When he came home he told me the silly story Of […]...
- The Something Here come my night thoughts On crutches, Returning from studying the heavens. What they thought about Stayed the same, Stayed […]...
- Discipline Throw away thy rod, Throw away thy wrath: O my God, Take the gentle path. For my heart’s desire Unto […]...
- Psalm 67 The nation’s prosperity, and the church’s increase. Shine, mighty God, on Britain shine, With beams of heav’nly grace; Reveal thy […]...
- Shakespeare Others abide our question. Thou art free. We ask and ask-thou smilest and art still, Out-topping knowledge. For the loftiest […]...
- Dane-Geld A. D. 980-1016 It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation To call upon a neighbour and […]...
- Unlyric Love Song It is time to give that-of-myself which I could not at first: To offer you now at last my least […]...
- The Book of Urizen: Chapter VIII 1. Urizen explor’d his dens Mountain, moor, & wilderness, With a globe of fire lighting his journey A fearful journey, […]...
- A Dream I dreamed that I ws dead and crossed the heavens, Heavens after heavens with burning feet and swift, And cried: […]...
- Drink of This Cup Drink of this cup; you’ll find there’s a spell in Its every drop ‘gainst the ills of mortality; Talk of […]...
- Another barbeque tonight It rained throughout the night, a truly welcome sound That eases sleep although we barely slept – we were Distressed […]...
- THE GARLANDS KLOPSTOCK would lead us away from Pindus; no longer For laurel May we be eager the homely acorn alone must […]...
- Understand Old One What if you came back now To our new world, the city roaring There on the old peaceful camping place […]...
- Poet's Path My garden hath a slender path With ivy overgrown, A secret place where once would pace A pot all alone; […]...
- 1914 IV: The Dead These hearts were woven of human joys and cares, Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth. The years had given […]...
- Australia A Nation of trees, drab green and desolate grey In the field uniform of modern wars, Darkens her hills, those […]...
- I Only Am Escaped Alone to Tell Thee I tell you that I see her still At the dark entrance of the hall. One gas lamp burning near […]...
- A Curse For A Nation I heard an angel speak last night, And he said ‘Write! Write a Nation’s curse for me, And send it […]...
- The Red Blaze is the Morning The Red Blaze is the Morning The Violet is Noon The Yellow Day is falling And after that is none […]...
- Nomad Exquisite As the immense dew of Florida Brings forth The big-finned palm And green vine angering for life, As the immense […]...
- The Revolutionary Look at them standing there in authority The pale-faces, As if it could have any effect any more. Pale-face authority, […]...
- At leisure is the Soul At leisure is the Soul That gets a Staggering Blow The Width of Life before it spreads Without a thing […]...
- How many schemes may die How many schemes may die In one short Afternoon Entirely unknown To those they most concern The man that was […]...
- We knew not that we were to live We knew not that we were to live Nor when we are to die Our ignorance our cuirass is We […]...
- HUMAN FEELINGS AH, ye gods! ye great immortals In the spacious heavens above us! Would ye on this earth but give us […]...
- Somewhere upon the general Earth Somewhere upon the general Earth Itself exist Today The Magic passive but extant That consecrated me Indifferent Seasons doubtless play […]...
- The Argument Of His Book I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers, Of April, May, of June, and July-flowers. I sing of May-poles, […]...
- Jangling Memory Heavens above! here’s an old tie of your Sea-green dragons stamped on a golden ground. Ha! Ha! Ha! What children […]...