Author: Alfred Lord Tennyson

---

I.

Vex not thou the poets mind
With thy shallow wit;
Vex not thou the poets mind,
For thou canst not fathom it.
Clear and bright it should be ever,
Flowing like a crystal river,
Bright as light, and clear as wind.
 

II.

Dark-browd sophist, come not anear;
All the place is holy ground;
Hollow smile and frozen sneer
Come not here.
Holy water will I pour
Into every spicy flower
Of the laurel-shrubs that hedge it around.
The flowers would faint at your cruel cheer.
In your eye there is death,
There is frost in your breath
Which would blight the plants.
Where you stand you cannot hear
From the groves within
The wild-birds din.
In the heart of the garden the merry bird chants.
It would fall to the ground if you came in.
In the middle leaps a fountain
Like sheet lightning,
Ever brightening
With a low melodious thunder;
All day and all night it is ever drawn
From the brain of the purple mountain
Which stands in the distance yonder.
It springs on a level of bowery lawn,
And the mountain draws it from heaven above,
And it sings a song of undying love;
And yet, tho its voice be so clear and full,
You never would hear it, your ears are so dull;
So keep where you are; you are foul with sin;
It would shrink to the earth if you came in.

---

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: This poem exhibits a strong dichotomy between the world of the poet and the world of the 'sophist' or critic, who the poet characterizes as incapable of understanding or appreciating their art. The poet's mind is depicted as 'clear and bright,' flowing like a crystal river, while the sophist is described with cold, harsh imagery such as 'frozen sneer' and 'frost in your breath.' The poet seeks to protect the beauty of their world from the perceived cynicism and misunderstanding of the outsider.

The structure of the poem enhances this separation, with two stanzas that each present a different perspective. The first stanza defends the poet's mind and creativity, while the second warns the sophist to keep his distance. The poet uses several standout literary devices, including personification, simile, and vivid imagery to convey their message. The poet's world is alive with 'wild-birds din,' a singing fountain, and a mountain that 'draws from heaven above.' The critic, on the other hand, is so removed from this vibrant world that they can't even hear the song of undying love. Overall, the poem serves as a passionate defense of the creative mind and a critique of those who might seek to belittle or undervalue it.