Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    The gods are dead; but still for me
    Lives on in wildwood brook and tree
    Each myth, each old divinity.

    For me still laughs among the rocks
    The Naiad; and the Dryad's locks
    Drop perfume on the wildflower flocks.

    The Satyr's hoof still prints the loam;
    And, whiter than the wind-blown foam,
    The Oread haunts her mountain home.

    To him, whose mind is fain to dwell
    With loveliness no time can quell,
    All things are real, imperishable.

    To him - whatever facts may say - 
    Who sees the soul beneath the clay,
    Is proof of a diviner day.

    The very stars and flowers preach
    A gospel old as God, and teach
    Philosophy a child may reach;

    That cannot die; that shall not cease;
    That lives through idealities
    Of Beauty, ev'n as Rome and Greece.

    That lifts the soul above the clod,
    And, working out some period
    Of art, is part and proof of God.

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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: This poem is a profound exploration of the spiritual connection between nature and humanity. The overarching theme is the enduring power of myth and divinity, particularly in the context of natural beauty. Despite the opening line's assertion that "The gods are dead," the poem argues the opposite – that these divine entities live on in nature, embodying the brooks, trees, rocks, and mountains. The poem’s tone is reverential and somewhat defiant, persisting in seeing and believing in the old gods despite modernity's dismissal.

The poem's structure is consistent, with each stanza contributing to the development of the central theme. The poet employs vivid and evocative imagery, personifying elements of nature as the Naiad, Dryad, Satyr, and Oread, all figures from ancient mythology. This not only illustrates the enduring presence of these mythological figures, but also symbolizes the continuous dialogue between nature and humanity.

The poet also uses a range of literary devices, with a notable one being the metaphoric representation of the stars and flowers as preachers of a divine gospel. This suggests that the wisdom of the divine is accessible to all, even a child. The concluding lines point to the transformative power of beauty and art, which lift the soul and provide tangible evidence of God. This poem thus offers a spiritual perspective on reality that transcends the mundane and reaches for the divine.