Identify this poem
July 12, 2012 2:04 PM Subscribe
Poem identification help!
I recently met an elderly lady who recited a poem for me. I'd like to write to her and mention it but I'm not confident of the author. I thought she said Emily Dickinson but I haven't had any luck googling. We were also talking about the Brontes immediately beforehand so it could be Emily Bronte but again I haven't had any luck.
The poem began something like: 'Three rivers run around her feet, one red, one yellow, one...?' That's all I can remember. I clearly should gave paid more attention.
Any help identifying the poem and its author will be gratefully received!
I recently met an elderly lady who recited a poem for me. I'd like to write to her and mention it but I'm not confident of the author. I thought she said Emily Dickinson but I haven't had any luck googling. We were also talking about the Brontes immediately beforehand so it could be Emily Bronte but again I haven't had any luck.
The poem began something like: 'Three rivers run around her feet, one red, one yellow, one...?' That's all I can remember. I clearly should gave paid more attention.
Any help identifying the poem and its author will be gratefully received!
Best answer: Or Emily Bronte's 'The Philosopher'?
[excerpt]
"I saw a spirit, standing, man,
Where thou dost stand--an hour ago,
And round his feet three rivers ran,
Of equal depth, and equal flow--
A golden stream--and one like blood;
And one like sapphire seemed to be;
But, where they joined their triple flood
It tumbled in an inky sea
The spirit sent his dazzling gaze
Down through that ocean's gloomy night;
Then, kindling all, with sudden blaze,
The glad deep sparkled wide and bright--
White as the sun, far, far more fair
Than its divided sources were!"
posted by pammeke at 2:21 PM on July 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
[excerpt]
"I saw a spirit, standing, man,
Where thou dost stand--an hour ago,
And round his feet three rivers ran,
Of equal depth, and equal flow--
A golden stream--and one like blood;
And one like sapphire seemed to be;
But, where they joined their triple flood
It tumbled in an inky sea
The spirit sent his dazzling gaze
Down through that ocean's gloomy night;
Then, kindling all, with sudden blaze,
The glad deep sparkled wide and bright--
White as the sun, far, far more fair
Than its divided sources were!"
posted by pammeke at 2:21 PM on July 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
Sounds like pammeke has it. For future reference, here's a Bronte concordance, and here's one for Dickinson.
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:29 PM on July 12, 2012
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:29 PM on July 12, 2012
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posted by this roof at 2:20 PM on July 12, 2012