Friday, December 15, 2006

English Poetry: Lucifer in Starlight

Apologies for the lack of blogging in recent days - I've been laid low by a nasty flu type bug (that'll teach me for blogging about health!) Anyway, a short poem for this Friday from George Meredith.

Lucifer in Starlight

ON a starr'd night Prince Lucifer uprose.
Tired of his dark dominion swung the fiend
Above the rolling ball in cloud part screen'd,
Where sinners hugg'd their spectre of repose.
Poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those.
And now upon his western wing he lean'd,
Now his huge bulk o'er Afric's sands careen'd,
Now the black planet shadow'd Arctic snows.
Soaring through wider zones that prick'd his scars
With memory of the old revolt from Awe,
He reach'd a middle height, and at the stars,
Which are the brain of heaven, he look'd, and sank.
Around the ancient track march'd, rank on rank,
The army of unalterable law.

George Meredith (1828-1909)

2 comments:

Gavin said...

What a complex poem. I admit, I'm going to have to read this one over a few times, and let it sink in.
I adore all the art forms: Poetry, music, theatre, dance, cinema, painting....

Stan said...

I suppose it is quite complex - though I have to admit I don't personally think too deeply about poetry, I just see certain things that catch my eye and think "I like that!"

In this poem it's that fantastic line , "Where sinners hugg'd their spectre of repose, poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those".

Brilliant! I wish I could write songs with lyrics like that.