Austerity Of Poetry

Matthew Arnold 1822 (Laleham) – 1888 (Liverpool)



That son of Italy who tried to blow,
Ere Dante came, the trump of sacred song,
In his light youth amid a festal throng
Sate with his bride to see a public show.

Fair was the bride, and on her front did glow
Youth like a star; and what to youth belong--
Gay raiment, sparkling gauds, elation strong.
A prop gave way! crash fell a platform! lo,

'Mid struggling sufferers, hurt to death, she lay!
Shuddering, they drew her garments off--and found
A robe of sackcloth next the smooth, white skin.

Such, poets, is your bride, the Muse! young, gay,
Radiant, adorn'd outside; a hidden ground
Of thought and of austerity within.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
99

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBA ABBA CDE CDE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 621
Words 114
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 3, 3

Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. more…

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