Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MAKING OF VIOLA, by FRANCIS THOMPSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Spin, daughter mary, spin Last Line: Gift of tears, my viola! Subject(s): Children; Childhood | ||||||||
I The Father of Heaven. SPIN, daughter Mary, spin, Twirl your wheel with silver din; Spin, daughter Mary, spin, Spin a tress for Viola. Angels. Spin, Queen Mary, a Brown tress for Viola! II The Father of Heaven. Weave, hands angelical, Weave a woof of flesh to pall -- Weave, hands angelical -- Flesh to pall our Viola. Angels. Weave, singing brothers, a Velvet flesh for Viola! III The Father of Heaven. Scoop, young Jesus, for her eyes, Wood-browned pools of Paradise -- Young Jesus, for the eyes, For the eyes of Viola. Angels. Tint, Prince Jesus, a Dusked eye for Viola! IV The Father of Heaven. Cast a star therein to drown, Like a torch in cavern brown, Sink a burning star to drown Whelmed in eyes of Viola. Angels. Lave, Prince Jesus, a Star in eyes of Viola! V The Father of Heaven. Breathe, Lord Paraclete, To a bubbled crystal meet -- Breathe, Lord Paraclete -- Crystal soul for Viola! Angels. Breathe, Regal Spirit, a Flashing soul for Viola! VI The Father of Heaven. Child-angels, from your wings Fall the roseal hoverings, Child-angels, from your wings, On the cheeks of Viola. Angels. Linger, rosy reflex, a Quenchless stain, on Viola! VII All things being accomplished, saith the Father of Heaven: Bear her down, and bearing, sing, Bear her down on spyless wing, Bear her down, and bearing, sing, With a sound of viola. Angels. Music as her name is, a Sweet sound of Viola! VIII Wheeling angels, past espial, Danced her down with sound of viol; Wheeling angels, past espial, Descanting on 'Viola'. Angels. Sing, in our footing, a Lovely lilt of 'Viola!' IX Baby smiled, mother wailed, Earthward while the sweetling sailed; Mother smiled, baby wailed, When to earth came Viola. And her elders shall say: So soon have we taught you a Way to weep, poor Viola! X Smile, sweet baby, smile, For you will have weeping-while; Native in your Heaven is smile, -- But your weeping, Viola? Whence your smiles we know, but ah! Whence your weeping, Viola? -- Our first gift to you is a Gift of tears, my Viola! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE ARAB LOVE SONG by FRANCIS THOMPSON |
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