Author: Edgar Allan Poe

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I

In youth I have known one with whom the Earth
In secret communing held, as he with it,
In daylight, and in beauty, from his birth:
Whose fervid, flickering torch of life was lit
From the sun and stars, whence he had drawn forth
A passionate light such for his spirit was fit, 
And yet that spirit knew, not in the hour
Of its own fervor, what had oer it power.


II

Perhaps it may be that my mind is wrought
To a ferver by the moonbeam that hangs oer,
But I will half believe that wild light fraught
With more of sovereignty than ancient lore
Hath ever told, or is it of a thought
The unembodied essence, and no more
That with a quickening spell doth oer us pass
As dew of the night-time, oer the summer grass?


III

Doth oer us pass, when, as th expanding eye
To the loved object, so the tear to the lid
Will start, which lately slept in apathy?
And yet it need not be, (that object) hid
From us in life, but common, which doth lie
Each hour before us, but then only bid
With a strange sound, as of a harp-string broken
T awake usTis a symbol and a token, 


IV

Of what in other worlds shall be, and given
In beauty by our God, to those alone
Who otherwise would fall from life and Heaven
Drawn by their hearts passion, and that tone,
That high tone of the spirit which hath striven
Though not with Faith, with godliness, whose throne
With desperate energy t hath beaten down;
Wearing its own deep feeling as a crown.

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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 offers an introspective exploration of human connection with the natural world, the mysteries of life, and the spiritual realm. The speaker starts by reminiscing about a person in their youth who was deeply connected to nature, hinting at themes of nostalgia and the transience of life. The tone here is both melancholic and inquisitive, encouraging a deep understanding of one's place in the universe.

The poem follows a structured stanzaic format, with each stanza unveiling a new stage of this metaphysical journey. The use of celestial imagery in the first two stanzas underscores the speaker's contemplation of cosmic power and the impact of nature on the human psyche. The moonbeam becomes a symbol for a commanding, yet elusive, source of inspiration. The third stanza introduces the motif of tears, indicating a sense of longing or loss, and suggesting that ordinary elements of life can awaken deep emotions when viewed from a fresh perspective. The final stanza hints at a spiritual struggle, capturing the struggle between human passion and divine power.

The poem employs several literary devices, such as metaphors and similes, to convey its profound messages. The metaphor of a broken harp-string symbolizes a sudden awakening, while the comparison of deep feeling to a crown in the last line emphasizes the importance of emotional experience. Overall, this poem is an intricate blend of personal reflection, existential contemplation, and spiritual quest, all set against a backdrop of cosmic and natural imagery.