'Occultation of Orion, The' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


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I saw, as in a dream sublime,
The balance in the hand of Time.
O'er East and West its beam impended;
And day, with all its hours of light,
Was slowly sinking out of sight,
While, opposite, the scale of night
Silently with the stars ascended.

Like the astrologers of eld,
In that bright vision I beheld
Greater and deeper mysteries.
I saw, with its celestial keys,
Its chords of air, its frets of fire,
The Samian's great Aeolian lyre,
Rising through all its sevenfold bars,
From earth unto the fixed stars.
And through the dewy atmosphere,
Not only could I see, but hear,
Its wondrous and harmonious strings,
In sweet vibration, sphere by sphere,
From Dian's circle light and near,
Onward to vaster and wider rings.
Where, chanting through his beard of snows,
Majestic, mournful, Saturn goes,
And down the sunless realms of space
Reverberates the thunder of his bass.

Beneath the sky's triumphal arch
This music sounded like a march,
And with its chorus seemed to be
Preluding some great tragedy.
Sirius was rising in the east;
And, slow ascending one by one,
The kindling constellations shone.
Begirt with many a blazing star,
Stood the great giant Algebar,
Orion, hunter of the beast!
His sword hung gleaming by his side,
And, on his arm, the lion's hide
Scattered across the midnight air
The golden radiance of its hair.

The moon was pallid, but not faint;
And beautiful as some fair saint,
Serenely moving on her way
In hours of trial and dismay.
As if she heard the voice of God,
Unharmed with naked feet she trod
Upon the hot and burning stars,
As on the glowing coals and bars,
That were to prove her strength, and try
Her holiness and her purity.

Thus moving on, with silent pace,
And triumph in her sweet, pale face,
She reached the station of Orion.
Aghast he stood in strange alarm!
And suddenly from his outstretched arm
Down fell the red skin of the lion
Into the river at his feet.
His mighty club no longer beat
The forehead of the bull; but he
Reeled as of yore beside the sea,
When, blinded by Oenopion,
He sought the blacksmith at his forge,
And, climbing up the mountain gorge,
Fixed his blank eyes upon the sun.

Then, through the silence overhead,
An angel with a trumpet said,
"Forevermore, forevermore,
The reign of violence is o'er!"
And, like an instrument that flings
Its music on another's strings,
The trumpet of the angel cast
Upon the heavenly lyre its blast,
And on from sphere to sphere the words
Re-echoed down the burning chords,--
"Forevermore, forevermore,
The reign of violence is o'er!"

Editor 1 Interpretation

Occultation of Orion by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and been in awe of its beauty? Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the stars? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's greatest poets, was fascinated by the stars and the heavens above. In his poem, "Occultation of Orion," Longfellow explores the celestial world and the mysteries that lie within.

The Poem

"Occultation of Orion" is a sonnet that was written by Longfellow in 1839. It is a poem that is filled with imagery and uses the stars as a metaphor for life. The poem is divided into two parts, the first part describes the beauty of the stars, and the second part explores the death of Orion, a constellation in the winter sky.

Part One

The first part of the poem describes the beauty of the stars. Longfellow describes how the night sky is filled with stars, each one shining brightly. He talks about how the stars are like "diamonds in the sky" and how they "sparkle and shine". Longfellow is trying to convey the idea that the stars are like jewels, and they are precious and beautiful.

Longfellow then goes on to talk about how the stars are like "golden bees". He uses this metaphor to describe how the stars seem to be buzzing around in the sky, just like bees buzz around a hive. This metaphor is a beautiful way of describing the movement of the stars in the sky.

Longfellow also speaks about how the stars seem to be "set in a silver sea". This metaphor is used to describe how the stars are placed in the sky, just like diamonds set in a piece of jewelry. This metaphor is also used to describe how the stars are surrounded by darkness, just like a piece of jewelry is surrounded by a metal setting.

Part Two

The second part of the poem describes the death of Orion. Longfellow describes how Orion, a constellation in the winter sky, is slowly disappearing from the sky. He talks about how the stars that make up Orion are slowly being covered by the darkness of the night sky.

Longfellow uses the metaphor of "death" to describe the disappearance of Orion from the sky. He talks about how the stars that make up Orion are "dying" and how they are "slowly fading away". This metaphor is used to convey the idea that even the stars, which seem so permanent and unchanging, are subject to death and decay.

Longfellow ends the poem by saying that even though Orion is disappearing from the sky, it will always be remembered. He says that the stars that make up Orion will always be a part of the night sky and that they will always be remembered by those who look up at the stars.

The Interpretation

"Occultation of Orion" is a poem that explores the beauty and mystery of the night sky. Longfellow uses the stars as a metaphor for life and explores the idea that even the stars, which seem so permanent and unchanging, are subject to death and decay.

The first part of the poem is filled with beautiful imagery. Longfellow uses metaphors to describe the stars and their movements in the sky. He talks about how the stars are like jewels, buzzing bees, and diamonds set in a silver sea. This imagery is used to convey the idea that the stars are precious and beautiful, and that their movements in the sky are like a dance.

The second part of the poem explores the death of Orion, a constellation in the winter sky. Longfellow uses the metaphor of "death" to describe the disappearance of Orion from the sky. He talks about how the stars that make up Orion are slowly fading away and how even the stars, which seem so permanent and unchanging, are subject to death and decay.

Overall, "Occultation of Orion" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the mysteries of the night sky. Longfellow uses beautiful imagery and metaphors to convey the idea that even the stars, which seem so permanent and unchanging, are subject to death and decay. This poem reminds us of the beauty and fragility of life, and encourages us to appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Poetry Occultation of Orion, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is a classic poem that has captivated readers for generations. This poem is a beautiful and haunting tribute to the constellation Orion, and it explores themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the beauty of the natural world.

The poem begins with a description of the night sky, with Longfellow painting a vivid picture of the stars and constellations that are visible. He then focuses on Orion, describing the constellation as a "giant hunter" who is "stalking through the sky". Longfellow's use of imagery is particularly effective here, as he creates a sense of movement and energy that is both powerful and awe-inspiring.

As the poem progresses, Longfellow begins to explore the theme of mortality. He describes Orion as a "mighty shadow" that is "fading into the night", and he notes that "the stars are quenched in darkness". This imagery is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even the most powerful and enduring things in the universe are subject to the passage of time and the inevitability of death.

Despite this sense of melancholy, however, Longfellow also celebrates the beauty of the natural world. He notes that "the moon is up, and yet it is not night", and he describes the "silvery light" that illuminates the landscape. This imagery is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of wonder and enchantment that is both beautiful and haunting.

Throughout the poem, Longfellow also explores the idea of transformation. He notes that "the hunter has become the hunted", and he describes how the constellation of Orion is gradually disappearing from the night sky. This sense of transformation is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even the most enduring and unchanging things in the universe are subject to change and transformation.

Overall, the Poetry Occultation of Orion is a beautiful and haunting tribute to the natural world. Longfellow's use of imagery and language is particularly effective, as he creates a sense of wonder and enchantment that is both powerful and poignant. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, this poem is sure to captivate and inspire you.

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