Poetry · Chapter
A Prophecy explained
The speaker invokes the moon, stars, and sky to listen to a lullaby for an infant.
What happens
The speaker invokes the moon, stars, and sky to listen to a lullaby for an infant. The child is prophesied to become a poet, as a flaming lyre appears above the cradle and the infant touches it unharmed, signaling a destined poetic future.
Themes in this chapter
Dreams and Escape
The lullaby and prophetic vision create a dreamlike atmosphere, envisioning the child's escape into a poetic destiny.
Art and Poetry
The central prophecy is that the child will become a poet, symbolized by the flaming lyre and the infant's fearless interaction with it.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Child, I know thee! Child no more, But a Poet evermore!”
I recognize you, child; you are no longer just a child but will be a poet forever.
The speaker declares the child's transformation into a poet.
“It lifts its little hand into the flame Unharm'd, and on the strings Paddles a little tune, and sings, With dumb endeavour sweetly— Bard art thou completely!”
The infant reaches into the fire without injury, strums the lyre, and produces a sweet sound, confirming its complete identity as a poet.
The miraculous act of touching the flaming lyre symbolizes the child's destined poetic gift.