Saturday, October 9, 2010

Classic Poetry (In Youth I Have Known One ~ Edgar Allen Poe)


In Youth I have Known One

How often we forget all time, when lone
Admiring Nature's universal throne;
Her woods - her winds - her mountains - the intense
Reply of Hers to Our intelligence!

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 fervour - what had o'er it power.

II.

Perhaps it may be that my mind is wrought
To a fever by the moonbeam that hangs o'er,
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 o'er us pass
As dew of the night time, o'er the summer grass?

III.

Doth o'er 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 harpstring broken
T' awake us - 'Tis 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 heart's 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.

Edgar Allen Poe 1809-1849


Do you like this poem?  What does it make you think about?  Please share any thoughts you have concerning this selection in the comments section below.  We look forward to you sahring your thoughts with us.

We here at Poets United will post a classic poem once weekly. We want to do this to introduce classic poets and their poems to our members. It is also a way to display different styles, genres and approaches to poetry. Our intent is to further expand the world of poetry while educating ourselves.

If you have a classic poem or set of prose you are fond of please let us know by emailing it to us at poetsunited@ymail.com.  Currently we are limited to poems that were published prior to 1923 due to copyright concerns.  If you do want to recommend or suggest a poem published after 1923 please assist us in pursuing the copyright rules or allowances of the poem.  The poems published here are done so strictly for educational purposes.  For further information on copyright rules please read the Poets United Copyright Statement.

6 comments:

  1. Absolutely love Edgar Allen Poe. One of the greatest writer's of all time, in my opinion. Excellent read! Thanks for sharing with us. :)

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  2. This classics series is a FANTASTIC idea, Robb! Yay! Loved reading this.....

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  3. I love Poe's poetry. Did you know, he considered himself a poet, first?

    This poem says to me that perhaps more things are, in their way, saving, and divine, than just piety or righteous living. A life full of genuine feeling and passion may be considered holy, in its way, as well, and be a grace to he one who possesses them.

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  4. A very talented writer Edar Allen poe is.I loved the poem to the core

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  5. That is an interesting poem, Robert. I was not familiar with this one of Edgar Allen Poe's. It truly is fascinating to see how poetry styles have evolved over the years!

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