The Bridge Between Clifton And Leigh Woods

By William Lisle Bowles

    Frown ever opposite, the angel cried,     Who, with an earthquake's might and giant hand,     Severed these riven rocks, and bade them stand     Severed for ever! The vast ocean-tide,     Leaving its roar without at his command,     Shrank, and beneath the woods through the green land     Went gently murmuring on, so to deride     The frowning barriers that its force defied!     But Art, high o'er the trailing smoke below     Of sea-bound steamer, on yon summit's head     Sat musing; and where scarce a wandering crow     Sailed o'er the chasm, in thought a highway led;     Conquering, as by an arrow from a bow,     The scene's lone Genius by her elfin-thread.

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Poem Details

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

Analysis & Notes:
This particular poem captures a vivid struggle between natural forces and human intervention, a common theme in Romantic poetry. The poem opens with a cataclysmic scene, where an angel with "an earthquake's might and giant hand," splits the rocks, suggesting a divine or supernatural intervention on the natural world. The ocean, personified as a sentient entity, is tamed, leaving its roar behind, thus presenting the theme of nature's subjugation by a higher power.

The second half of the poem transitions to the representation of Art, possibly a metaphor for human creativity and innovation. Art is depicted as a thoughtful, contemplative force, envisioning a highway where there was none, thereby suggesting human ambition and the drive to conquer and transform landscapes. The final line speaks to Art's triumph, rendering the "scene's lone Genius," possibly a representation of nature, conquered by Art's "elfin-thread," a metaphor perhaps for the delicate yet transformative influence of human creativity.

The poem's structure is that of a Petrarchan sonnet, and the poet skillly uses enjambment to create a fluid movement between lines and ideas, reflecting the continuous and interconnected struggle and symbiosis between divine power, nature, and human innovation. The tone is one of reverence for both the divine and human capabilities, mixed with a sense of awe for the raw power of natural forces. The poem, in essence, encapsulates the Romantic era's preoccupations with nature, the divine, and the human spirit's ceaseless endeavor to assert and express itself.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.


Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.