Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    She sits among the iris stalks
    Of babbling brooks; and leans for hours
    Among the river's lily flowers,
    Or on their whiteness walks:
    Above dark forest pools, gray rocks
    Wall in, she leans with dripping locks,
    And listening to the echo, talks
    With her own face Iothera.
    There is no forest of the hills,
    No valley of the solitude,
    Nor fern nor moss, that may elude
    Her searching step that stills:
    She dreams among the wild-rose brakes
    Of fountains that the ripple shakes,
    And, dreaming of herself, she fills
    The silence with 'Iothera.'
    And every wind that haunts the ways
    Of leaf and bough, once having kissed
    Her virgin nudity, goes whist
    With wonder and amaze.
    There blows no breeze which hath not learned
    Her name's sweet melody, and yearned
    To kiss her mouth that laughs and says,
    'Iothera, Iothera.'
    No wild thing of the wood, no bird,
    Or brown or blue, or gold or gray,
    Beneath the sun's or moonlight's ray,
    That hath not loved and heard;
    They are her pupils; she can say
    No new thing but, within a day,
    They have its music, word for word,
    Harmonious as Iothera.
    No man who lives and is not wise
    With love for common flowers and trees,
    Bee, bird, and beast, and brook, and breeze,
    And rocks and hills and skies,
    Search where he will, shall ever see
    One flutter of her drapery,
    One glimpse of limbs, or hair, or eyes
    Of beautiful Iothera.

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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 beautifully evocative exploration of nature, solitude, and self-reflection. The central character, Iothera, serves as a metaphor for the spirit of nature; she is a presence intertwined with the landscape, birds, and the wind. The primary theme revolves around the human relationship with nature and the solace one can find in this connection.

The poem is rich in vivid, sensory imagery, painting a picture of a serene and enchanting natural world. The repetition of the name 'Iothera' throughout the poem creates a rhythmic, chant-like effect, adding to the mystical aura of the character and the poem as a whole. The consistent rhyming scheme also brings a song-like quality to the piece, reinforcing the notion of nature's harmony.

The tone is contemplative and reverent, suggesting a deep respect for nature and its elements. The poem also hints at the idea of nature's indifference to those who do not appreciate its beauty, as seen in the line, 'No man who lives and is not wise/With love for common flowers and trees...shall ever see/One flutter of her drapery'. This line suggests that the wonders of nature, represented by Iothera, are only visible to those who truly appreciate them.

In conclusion, the poem is a stunning tribute to nature and its beauty, using the character of Iothera as a symbol for the spirit of the natural world. It invites us to appreciate nature's wonders, and to find peace and self-reflection in its embrace.