PassionBy Kathleen

Raine

PassionFull of desire I lay, the sky wounding me,Each cloud a ship without me sailing, each treePossessing what my soul lacked, tranquillity.Waiting for the longed-for voice to speakThrough the mute telephone, my body grew weakWith the well-known and mortal death, heartbreak.The language I knew best, my human speechForsook my fingers, and out of reachWere Homer's ghosts, the savage conches of the beach.Then the sky spoke to me in language clear,Familiar as the heart, than love more near.

The sky said to my soul, `You have what you desire.`Know now that you are born along with theseClouds, winds, and stars, and ever-moving seasAnd forest dwellers. This your nature is.Lift up your heart again without fear,Sleep in the tomb, or breathe the living air,This world you with the flower and with the tiger share.'Then I saw every visible substance turnInto immortal, every cell new bornBurned with the holy fire of passion.This world I saw as on her judgment dayWhen the war ends, and the sky rolls away,And all is light, love and eternity.

Writer: Kathleen Raine• DOB:  14 June 1908 • DOD:  6 July 2003• Education: Griton

College.• A British poet, critic,

and scholar writing on William Blake, W. B. Yeats and Thomas Taylor.

• Known for her interest in various forms of spirituality.

• Founder member of the Temenos Academy 

• More reads: Death-in-life and life-in-death, Stone and flower, Living with mystery.

Stuthi

Quotes and Effects• “Longed-for voice”• “Mortal death, heartbreak.”• “Holy fire of passion”• “Light, Love and eternity.”

Vansh

Overall effect

• Contrast between the start and the end.

• Ambiguity in “Homer’s ghosts…beach”.

• Clear that the persona is under depression.

• Short verses which convey meaning faster.

• Ends on a high & positive note.

Aayush