The Second Flood

By John Frederick Freeman

Lyric Poem
    How could I know, how could I guess     That here was your great happiness--     In mine? And how could I know     Your love infinite must grow?     Suddenly at dawn I wake     To see the cruse of colour break     Over the East, and then the gray     Creep up with light of common day ...     No, no, no! again that bright     Flashing, flushing, flooding light     Leading on day, until I ache     With love to see the dark world wake.     O, with such second flood your love     Painted my earth and heaven above,     With such wild magnificence     As bruised my heart in every sense,     In every nerve. Was ever man     Fit this renewed love to sustain?     Now in these days when Autumn's leaf     Is red and gold, and for a brief     Day the earth flowers ere it dies,     What if Spring came with new surprise,     Came ere the aspen shivered bare     Or the beech coins glittered in cold air,     Before the rough wind the maple stripped     And this bare moon on bare boughs stepped!     Vain thought--O, yet not wholly vain:     Even to me Love has come again,     Moving from your quick breast where he     Fluttered in his wondering infancy.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a deeply emotional exploration of love, its rediscovery, and its transformative power. The poet employs nature as a metaphor for love's ability to rejuvenate and invigorate, comparing the awakening of love to the break of dawn and the arrival of spring. The use of vivid and colourful imagery like "the cruse of colour break over the East" and "the dark world wake" paint a picture of the world being brought to life by the presence of love.

The structure of the poem mirrors the fluctuation of emotions experienced in a relationship, and the speaker's tone oscillates between surprise, awe, and a tinge of melancholy. The poem begins with a questioning tone, reflecting the speaker's initial confusion about the depth of the lover's feelings, then shifts to a more hopeful tone as the speaker realizes the reciprocation of their love. The use of negation in "No, no, no!" emphasizes the speaker's resistance to the mundanity of everyday life, longing instead for the extraordinary experience of love. The poem concludes with a reflection on the cyclical nature of love, symbolized by the seasons, and the speaker's renewed hope for a love that remains vibrant amidst the bareness of autumn. The speaker's realization that "Love has come again" offers a poignant ending, suggesting that love is a continual journey of rediscovery. The poet's use of metaphor, vivid imagery, and fluctuating tone, combined with a well-structured narrative, makes this poem a compelling exploration of love's transformative power.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.