Author: John Frederick Freeman

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    Beauty walked over the hills and made them bright.
    She in the long fresh grass scattered her rains
    Sparkling and glittering like a host of stars,
    But not like stars cold, severe, terrible.
    Hers was the laughter of the wind that leaped
    Arm-full of shadows, flinging them far and wide.
    Hers the bright light within the quick green
    Of every new leaf on the oldest tree.
    It was her swimming made the river run
    Shining as the sun;
    Her voice, escaped from winter's chill and dark,
    Singing in the incessant lark....
    All this was hers--yet all this had not been
    Except 'twas seen.
    It was my eyes, Beauty, that made thee bright;
    My ears that heard, the blood leaping in my veins,
    The vehemence of transfiguring thought--
    Not lights and shadows, birds, grasses and rains--
    That made thy wonders wonderful.
    For it has been, Beauty, that I have seen thee,
    Tedious as a painted cloth at a bad play,
    Empty of meaning and so of all delight.
    Now thou hast blessed me with a great pure bliss,
    Shaking thy rainy light all over the earth,
    And I have paid thee with my thankfulness.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem is a vivid and heartfelt ode to the beauty of nature, personifying it as a benevolent entity that bestows vibrancy and life upon the world. The poet employs a range of imagery, from the "sparkling and glittering" rains to the "bright light within the quick green" of new leaves, to paint a picture of a world teeming with life and beauty. The tone is one of reverence and joy, celebrating the transformative power of beauty on the landscape.

However, in the latter part of the poem, the poet introduces a shift in perspective. The emphasis is moved from the external beauty of the world to the internal perception of the observer. The speaker suggests that beauty is not inherent, but rather is dependent on the viewer's interpretation and appreciation. This shift is marked by a change in tone from exultation to introspection. The poem hence explores the subjective nature of beauty, implying that it is not just the observed, but the observer who breathes life into it. The poet uses a range of literary devices including personification, metaphor, and contrast to convey this message. The structure of the poem, with its transition from external observation to internal reflection, further underscores this theme.