Sings

By Madison Julius Cawein

    The dim verbena drugs the dusk     With lemon-heavy odours where     The heliotropes breathe drowsy musk     Into the jasmine-dreamy air;     The moss-rose bursts its dewy husk     And spills its attar there.     The orange at thy casement swings     Star-censers oozing rich perfumes;     The clematis, long-petalled, clings     In clusters of dark purple blooms;     With flowers, like moons or sylphide wings,     Magnolias light the glooms.     Awake, awake from sleep!     Thy balmy hair,     Down-fallen, deep on deep,     Like blossoms there'     That dew and fragrance weep'     Will fill the night with prayer.     Awake, awake from sleep!     And dreaming here it seems to me     A dryad's bosom grows confessed,     Bright in the moss of yonder tree,     That rustles with the murmurous West     Or is it but a bloom I see,     Round as thy virgin breast?     Through fathomless deeps above are rolled     A million feverish worlds, that burst,     Like gems, from Heaven's caskets old     Of darkness fires that throb and thirst;     An aloe, showering buds of gold,     The night seems, star-immersed.     Unseal, unseal thine eyes!     O'er which her rod     Sleep sways; and like the skies,     That dream and nod,     Their starry majesties     Will fill the night with God.     Unseal, unseal thine eyes!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
The poem in question is a rich exploration of nature, sensuality, and spirituality, using lush imagery and metaphors to create a vivid sensory experience. The poet begins by painting a nocturnal landscape, teeming with life and fragrant with the scents of various flowers. The use of personification and metaphor imbues the environment with a dreamlike quality, as the flowers seem to breathe, burst, and spill their scents into the air, creating a languid atmosphere that mirrors the sleepy tone of the poem.

The poem's structure alternates between descriptive stanzas and direct addresses to an unnamed female figure, urging her to awaken from sleep. This figure is compared to elements of the natural world, suggesting a deep connection between her and the surrounding environment. The direct addresses to the figure are also used to introduce the themes of prayer and divinity, adding a spiritual dimension to the poem.

The poem employs numerous literary devices, among them alliteration, assonance, and consonance, which add a musical quality to the poem and enhance the sensory experience. The repeated use of the phrase 'Awake, awake from sleep!' and 'Unseal, unseal thine eyes!' serves as a refrain, further reinforcing the poem's dreamy, hypnotic tone. Overall, the poem skillfully weaves together elements of nature, sensuality, and spirituality, creating a lush, immersive tapestry that invites readers to awaken their senses and appreciate the beauty and mystery of the world around them.

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.