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Poetry · Chapter

Two Rondels explained

The speaker describes waking in the night to a spiritual battle against dark thoughts and cares, called by the Lord.

What happens

The speaker describes waking in the night to a spiritual battle against dark thoughts and cares, called by the Lord. Though no voice comes from God, the speaker finds a realization of unity with the divine, overcoming the sense of separation and conflict.

Themes in this chapter

  • Spiritual Struggle and Doubt

    The speaker battles 'darksome imps' and 'wraths and cares' in the night, crying out for a voice from God that does not come.

  • Redemption and Grace

    Despite silence, the speaker experiences a dawning brightness and a sense of oneness with God, transcending the need for an audible voice.

Characters to notice

  • Lord

    The Lord is addressed as the one who calls the speaker in the night and whose voice is sought amid spiritual struggle.

  • Unknown

    The speaker who wakes, fights inner darkness, and ultimately finds unity with the divine.

Key passages

  • “When, in the mid-sea of the night, I waken at thy call, O Lord, The first that troop my bark aboard Are darksome imps that hate the light, Whose tongues are arrows, eyes a blight⁠— Of wraths and cares a pirate horde⁠—”

    When I wake in the deep night because you have called me, Lord, the first things that board my ship are dark, light-hating imps—their words are like arrows, their gaze harmful—a pirate crew of anger and worry.

    The speaker describes the immediate onslaught of negative thoughts upon waking.

  • “There comes no voice from thee, O Lord, Across the mid-sea of the night! I lift my voice and cry with might: If thou keep silent, soon a horde Of imps again will swarm aboard, And I shall be in sorry plight If no voice come from thee, my Lord, Across the mid-sea of the night.”

    You send no voice, Lord, across this midnight sea! I shout with all my strength: if you stay silent, a crowd of imps will soon swarm my ship again, and I will be in a bad state if I hear no voice from you, my Lord, across the midnight sea.

    The speaker cries out in desperation, fearing the return of dark thoughts without God's response.

  • “There comes no voice; I hear no word! But in my soul dawns something bright:⁠— There is no sea, no foe to fight! Thy heart and mine beat one accord: I need no voice from thee, O Lord, Across the mid-sea of the night.”

    No voice comes; I hear nothing! Yet something bright dawns in my soul: there is no sea, no enemy to fight! Your heart and mine beat as one: I don't need a voice from you, Lord, across the midnight sea.

    The speaker realizes a profound unity with God, rendering the need for an external voice unnecessary.

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