Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    I know a pool, whose crystalline repose
    Sleeps under walls of granite, whence the pine
    Leans looking at its image, line for line
    Repeated with the sumach and wild-rose
    That redden on the rocks; where, at day's close,
    The sunset dreams, and lights incarnadine
    Dark waters and the place seems brimmed with wine,
    A giant cup that splendour overflows.
    Night, in her livery of stars and moon,
    Stoops to its mirror, gazing steadily;
    And, saddened by her beauty, drops one tear,
    A falling star; while round it sighs the rune
    Of winds, conspirators that sweep from sea,
    Whispering of things that fill the heart with fear.

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Type of Poem: Sonnet

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: In this captivating poem, the author masterfully portrays a tranquil yet profound scene of nature's beauty and mystery. The poem’s primary theme is the interplay between reality and reflection, as seen through the portrayal of a serene pool and its mirrored world. The use of vivid and evocative imagery, such as the pine leaning over to gaze at its reflection and the night sky stooping to the pool's mirror, lends a sense of tranquility and introspection to the piece.

The poem’s tone is meditative and somber, with a hint of underlying fear. The day’s end, marked by the pool seeming to be brimmed with wine, introduces an element of melancholy, hinting at the fleeting nature of beauty and time. The poem's structure is well-crafted, with each line flowing smoothly into the next, mirroring the placid waters of the pool. This sense of harmony is interrupted towards the end with the introduction of winds, 'conspirators that sweep from sea,' suggesting an impending change or threat. This shift in tone is further accentified by the dropping of a star 'tear,' symbolizing loss and evoking a sense of melancholy. Overall, the poem invites readers to reflect on beauty, transience, and the subtle undercurrents of fear and apprehension that often lurk beneath serene surfaces.