Poetry · Chapter
An Augury explained
The narrator sits at his desk, surrounded by a spray of starry blossoms, and writes in an idle manner while contemplating a serious thought.
What happens
The narrator sits at his desk, surrounded by a spray of starry blossoms, and writes in an idle manner while contemplating a serious thought. He addresses the flowers, noting their fine Greek name and grace, and asks if they bear any messages of despair or hope. A sudden stir of stem and leaf, a breath of heliotrope, suggests an answer.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and Artifice
The poem contrasts the natural beauty of the flowers with the artificial act of writing, and the flowers' silent messages with the narrator's idle thoughts.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator is the speaker, writing at his desk and addressing the flowers.
Key passages
“Upon my desk a single spray, With starry blossoms fraught. I write in many an idle way, Thinking one serious thought.”
A single spray of starry blossoms sits on my desk. I write in many idle ways while thinking one serious thought.
The narrator sets the scene of writing amidst the flowers.
““O flowers, a fine Greek name ye bear, And with a fine Greek grace.” (Be still, O heart, that turns to share The sunshine of a face.)”
O flowers, you bear a fine Greek name and grace. Be still, my heart, that turns to share the sunshine of a face.
The narrator addresses the flowers and then speaks to his own heart.
““Have ye no messages—no brief, Still sign: ‘Despair,’ or ‘Hope’?” A sudden stir of stem and leaf— A breath of heliotrope!”
Do you have no messages, no brief, still sign of 'Despair' or 'Hope'? A sudden stir of stem and leaf—a breath of heliotrope!
The narrator asks the flowers for a sign, and the movement and scent of heliotrope provide an answer.