Hymn to Spiritual Desire
The work explores the theme of spiritual desire, personifying it as a powerful, almost divine presence that evokes deep longing and yearning within the speaker. The speaker experiences a profound connection to this force, describing it as a blend of beauty and mystery, akin to music that resonates with the soul. The imagery of fire and snow symbolizes the duality of passion and tranquility, highlighting the complexity of desire. The speaker expresses feelings of helplessness and thirst for unattainable visions, suggesting a struggle between earthly existence and a higher spiritual calling. The desire is depicted as a musical entity that interacts with the speaker's spirit, awakening a sense of rapture and urgency. This interaction is likened to a harp being played, where the chords of existence are vibrated by the presence of desire, emphasizing the transformative power of this force. The call for desire to breathe life into the speaker's soul reflects a yearning for artistic and spiritual fulfillment. The speaker wishes to transcend the mundane and connect with the divine, seeking to transform their heart into a vessel for divine music. This desire is portrayed as a catalyst for awakening, urging the speaker to embrace beauty and art as sources of inspiration and sustenance. The work culminates in an invitation to partake in the richness of life, urging the reader to grasp the wonder of existence rather than succumb to despair. The imagery of a sword adorned with gems symbolizes the potential for greatness and beauty in life, contrasting with the darker aspects of existence. The speaker envisions a universe filled with majestic music, where the divine plays on the grand organ of time, suggesting that spiritual desire is a pathway to understanding the profound mysteries of life and existence. Overall, the piece encapsulates the tension between earthly desires and spiritual aspirations, celebrating the transformative power of longing and the pursuit of beauty and truth.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1900 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Spiritual/Religious, Romanticism · 642 words
First lines
I. Mother of visions, with lineaments dulcet as numbers Breathed on the eyelids of Love by music that slumbers, Secretly, sweetly, O presence of fire and snow, Thou comest mysterious, In beauty imperious, Clad on with dreams and the light of no world that we know: Deep to my innermost soul am I shaken, Helplessly shaken and tossed, And of thy tyrannous yearnings so utterly taken, My lips, unsatisfied, thirst; Mine eyes are accurst With longings for visions that far in the night are forsaken; And mine ears, in listening lost, Yearn, waiting the note of a chord that will never awaken.
What this Textopian page supports
Hymn to Spiritual Desire is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Spiritual/Religious, Romanticism, Symbolism, Philosophical
- Length: 642 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by its musicality, emotional depth, and exploration of spiritual themes, typical of lyric poetry.
- Spiritual/Religious — The poem delves into themes of spiritual desire and the quest for divine connection, aligning it with spiritual literature.
- Romanticism — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and the sublime reflects the ideals of the Romantic movement.
- Symbolism — The use of vivid imagery and metaphors to convey deeper meanings aligns with Symbolist poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Spirituality · Philosophy · Meditation · Self-Discovery · Existentialism · Human Condition · Inner Life · Psychological Insight · Symbolism · Imagery · Nature