A Hope Carol by Christina Georgina Rossetti
Between night and day, the speaker hears calling voices, wings and music but cannot see their sources. The speaker longs to see the singers and instruments, expecting the calls to kindle an inward fire that will reveal the heart’s desire, though the time remains uncertain.
By Christina Georgina Rossetti · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Meditative Poetry · 220 words
First lines
A night was near, a day was near; / Between a day and night / I heard sweet voices calling clear, / Calling me: / I heard a whirr of wing on wing, / But could not see the sight; / I long to see my birds that sing, -- / I long to see.
Below the stars, beyond the moon, / Between the night and day, / I heard a rising falling tune / Calling me: / I long to see the pipes and strings / Whereon such minstrels play; / I long to see each face that sings, -- / I long to see.
To-day or may be not to-day, / To-night or not to-night; / All voices that command or pray, / Calling me, / Shall kindle in my soul such fire, / And in my eyes such light, / That I shall see that heart's desire / I long to see.
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — Three rhymed stanzas express the speaker’s longing through repeated calls and the refrain about wanting to see.
- Meditative Poetry — The speaker considers an uncertain future moment when the heard voices will kindle the soul and illuminate the heart’s desire.
Tags
hope · longing · unseen voices · music · night · daybreak
What this Textopian page supports
A Hope Carol is listed on Textopian as a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Meditative Poetry
- Length: 220 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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