The night is darkening round me,
The wild winds coldly blow;
But a tyrant spell has bound me
And I cannot, cannot go.
The giant trees are bending
Their bare boughs weighed with snow.
And the storm is fast descending,
And yet I cannot go.
Clouds beyond clouds above me,
Wastes beyond wastes below;
But nothing drear can move me;
I will not, cannot go.
Spellbound by Emily Brontë
Emily Jane Brontë (July 30th, 1818 to December 19th, 1848), was an English novelist and poet who is best known for her only novel "Wuthering Heights", now considered a classic of English literature. She also published a book of poetry with her sisters, Charlotte and Ann, titled Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, with her own poems finding regard as poetic genius. Emily was the second-youngest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Ann and her brother Branwell. She published under the pen name Ellis Bell.
In her comment Ginny, our blogging friend from Let Your Light Shine, mentioned that she looked up the meaning of this poem. Thank you Ginny, I took a look myself and found it very interesting. If you click on this link it will give you an interesting interpretation.
I do love her writing. So this sent me on a wild web search about the meaning of the poem. Type in Google "Meaning of Emily Bronte's poem Spellbound", and see what you think. Also notice the last line says WILL not along with CAN not. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ginny, that’s wonderful and very much appreciated :)
DeleteThis is new to me. Thank you (and Emily).
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Sue, and I am sure Emily would thank you too :)
DeleteI never heard this poem before but I do like it. I'll have to look her up and read some of her other work.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Ann, it's different to any of the poems I've read of hers before :)
DeleteIt is a new poem for me too, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a great day and a happy weekend!
You are very welcome Eileen and thank you, I wish you the same :)
DeleteThis is new to me, too, and it's a very entrancing poem. I have to admit that I've never read the whole of Wuthering Heights, though I've started it many times. My loss, I guess!
ReplyDeleteSame here with Wuthering Heights Janice, I am thinking of getting a copy now after reading this poem :)
DeleteI knew it before I read this, and proved it when I did what Ginny said to look up the meaning. what I knew is I have not one single poetry gene in my body, mind. soul. I did not get the meaning of the original or the one online. I did get the meaning for myself, I am stuck here and no where to go... the story of my life
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra, I really appreciate your comment :)
DeleteNot sure how I feel about this poem but I like this author. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much and you are very welcome. I know what you mean. I found it intriguing :)
DeleteLove the illustration you chose. I could stare at that without going. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen, I thought my request came out very pretty. You never know what it will be like but more often than not they are very visually appealing.
DeleteOh, this poem spoke to me right away, as we do get the snowfalls every winter, and are expected to get another one soon. They are a bit mesmerizing. The picture with the red cardinal is so pretty, and it is one that I hope to see someday. We don't see this bird in California where I live. I hope the new year is being good to you, Denise.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I hope you will get to see the cardinal one day Sheri, I never tire of seeing them no matter what the season is. It's a good start thank you Sheri, I do hope you are having the same :)
DeleteHappy Friday to you! Do you think we will get more snow??
ReplyDeleteA happy Friday to you also Jennifer. I think we may be getting more snow around midnight, maybe not as much as before though :) Let's batten down the hatches and drink hot chocolate! :)))
DeleteIronically my 11th grade literature teacher's last name was Hamlet....
ReplyDeleteOne of his favorite questions after reading a poem was "what does this mean"?
We await our first snow event in 1007 days yes 1007 days.
Hugs
Cecilia
Hello dear friend, now that's very interesting about your 11th grade literature teacher. I never thought about the meaning of poems, not realizing when I was young that some were so deep. Nowadays I am always looking :) 1007 days? Wow! Stay inside and stay cozy :)
DeleteI thought it meant she was frozen in fear. Guess you can tell I always got the meaning of poems wrong in school! LOL! I take things in a literal sense. Guess that's why I read nonfiction! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kay, well, those meanings can be different also. They are sometimes very confusing. So you are literally literal? LOL! We all have a place in this world, literal thinkers, non literal thinkers and I think that's great :))) Be who we are, that's my mantra :)
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine :)
DeleteThank you for your lovely image, the words of the poem and the link you gave.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Oh you are very welcome Jan, and thank you! So happy you enjoyed both. all the best to you too :)
DeleteThe poetry is so beautiful and touching
ReplyDeleteThank you Roentare, that makes me happy that you thought so. She was an awesome writer wasn't she?
DeleteI hadn't read this before, but I interpreted it from my own life experience. I have stood (and danced with joy) in thunderstorms and blizzards--just mesmerized by the awesome force of nature. I was that child who didn't always come in from the rain...because I could not, would not leave it. I have been enthralled by the magic and power of nature since I was a child. I know. I've always been a bit weird--lol! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Rita, you are most definitely not weird, you are wonderful. You would fit right in with my clan :))) Loved reading this, thank you kindred spirit :)
DeleteInteresting poem - the idea of being stuck in the snow doesn't sound fun to me though
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol, being stuck in the snow, especially without shelter, would not be good, that’s for sure :)
DeleteMe gusto el poema muy bello. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMuchas gracias. Me alegro que te haya gustado este poema :) Te mando un beso.
DeleteEmily Bronte's poem to me has many different meanings. I am afraid this dear poem must be speaking of her impending passing. Such a talented young woman lost too soon. Hopefully she had a lovely scene out her window like the one you featured.
ReplyDeleteHopefully she did Martha Ellen :) I would find that scene very comforting.
DeleteIt is a nice poem, and different opinions come to mind as to what it means.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret, it is very interesting how we can interpret this poem :)
DeleteI never think of Emily Bronte as a poet -- thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteYou re very welcome Jeanie, and thank you :) I am happy you enjoyed it.
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