Dictated Before The Rhone Glacier

 ("Souvent quand mon esprit riche.") 
 
 {VII., May 18, 1828.} 


 When my mind, on the ocean of poesy hurled, 
 Floats on in repose round this wonderful world, 
 Oft the sacred fire from heaven— 
 Mysterious sun, that gives light to the soul— 
 Strikes mine with its ray, and above the pole 
 Its upward course is driven, 
 
 Like a wandering cloud, then, my eager thought 
 Capriciously flies, to no guidance brought, 
 With every quarter's wind; 
 It regards from those radiant vaults on high, 
 Earth's cities below, and again doth fly, 
 And leaves but its shadow behind. 
 
 In the glistening gold of the morning bright, 
 It shines, detaching some lance of light, 
 Or, as warrior's armor rings; 
 It forages forests that ferment around, 
 Or bathed in the sun-red gleams is found, 
 Where the west its radiance flings. 
 
 Or, on mountain peak, that rears its head 
 Where snow-clad Alps around are spread, 
 By furious gale 'tis thrown. 
 From the yawning abyss see the cloud scud away, 
 And the glacier appears, with its multiform ray, 
 The giant mountain's crown! 
 
 Like Parnassian pinnacle yet to be scaled, 
 In its form from afar, by the aspirant hailed; 
 On its side the rainbow plays, 
 And at eve, when the shadow sinks sleeping below, 
 The last slanting ray on its crest of snow 
 Makes its cap like a crater to blaze. 
 
 In the darkness, its front seems some pale orb of light, 
 The chamois with fear flashes on in its flight, 
 The eagle afar is driven; 
 The deluge but roars in despair to its feet, 
 And scarce dare the eye its aspect to meet, 
 So near doth it rise to heaven. 
 
 Alone on these altitudes, feeling no fear, 
 Forgetful of earth, my spirit draws near; 
 On the starry vault to gaze, 
 And nearer, to gaze on those glories of night, 
 On th' horizon high heaving, like arches of light, 
 Till again the sun shall blaze. 
 
 For then will the glacier with glory be graced, 
 On its prisms will light streaked with darkness be placed, 
 The morn its echoes greet; 
 Like a torrent it falls on the ocean of life, 
 Like Chaos unformed, with the sea-stormy strife, 
 When waters on waters meet. 
 
 As the spirit of poesy touches my thought, 
 It is thus my ideas in a circle are brought, 
 From earth, with the waters of pain. 
 As under a sunbeam a cloud ascends, 
 These fly to the heavens—their course never ends, 
 But descend to the ocean again. 
 
 Author of "Critical Essays." 


 








Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter