Wednesday, April 27, 2011

XANADU

Thank you everyone for your kind get well wishes. Still feeling blah. Here is a nice poem for all you dreamers out there:
Xanadu - Kubla Khan
a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge


In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me
That with music loud and long
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed
And drunk the milk of Paradise.

9 comments:

Desiree said...

I haven't read this in years!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to again ;)

Sorry to hear you're still feeling poorly. Best remedy...bed rest with plenty to read and drink lots of liquids (tea, juice) :)

Laura Eno said...

A beautiful place to dream about!
Keep resting. :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Siv,

Like Desiree, I haven't read this in years, too. Beautiful poem.

Get well soon. We miss your wonderful smile. Keep warm and toasty.

Michael

Sarah McCabe said...

I'm not much for poetry, but that's the kind of poetry I like. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm with Desiree, rest, fluids and relax. I have not read this in a long time either. A great poem!
Thanks for sharing.

Bob Scotney said...

My X tomorrow will start with Xanadu. Great poem this. Get well soon.

Jules said...

Oh thank you for the poem, I do love dreaming. Please take care, and know we all wish you healing thoughts. :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Tiger85 said...

Wonderful and beautiful poem. Hope you feel better soon. =)

Poetry, Quotes and Book Reviews.

renate said...

hope you feel better soon vakre siv:) and thanks for sharing the wonderful poem.