A Spirit Passed before me (from Job)
The poem describes a moment of introspection and contemplation where the speaker reflects on their own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. It begins with an image of a spirit passing before the speaker, which serves as a catalyst for their thoughts on death and the afterlife. The speaker is struck by the idea that even in death, there may be some form of existence or continuation beyond the physical world. The poem explores themes of mortality, spirituality, and the human condition, raising questions about what lies beyond the grave and whether it is possible to transcend the limitations of the physical body. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with these complex ideas, ultimately arriving at a sense of acceptance and resignation in the face of death's inevitability.
By Lord Byron · First published 1816 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 149 words
First lines
I / A spirit passed before me: I beheld / The face of Immortality unveiled- / Deep Sleep came down on every eye save mine- / And there it stood,-all formless-but divine: / Along my bones the creeping flesh did quake; / And as my damp hair stiffened, thus it spake:
II / "Is man more just than God? Is man more pure / Than he who deems even Seraphs insecure? / Creatures of clay-vain dwellers in the dust! / The moth survives you, and are ye more just? / Things of a day! you wither ere the night, / Heedless and blind to Wisdom's wasted light! "
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A Spirit Passed before me (from Job) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1816 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1816 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Gothic
- Length: 149 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, employing poetic devices such as meter and rhyme.
- Religious — The text references themes of divinity, immortality, and questions of justice in relation to God.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential questions about human nature, justice, and wisdom.
- Gothic — The imagery of a spirit and the unsettling atmosphere contribute to a gothic tone.
Tags
Poetry · Philosophical · Meditative · Spiritual · Existential · Tragic · Melancholic · Ethereal · Dreamlike · Symbolic · Allegorical · Mythological