Passer-by, sin beyond any sin
Is the sin of blindness of souls to other souls.
And joy beyond any joy is the joy
Of having the good in you seen, and seeing the good
At the miraculous moment!
Here I confess to a lofty scorn,
And an acrid skepticism.
But do you remember the liquid that Penniwit
Poured on tintypes, making them blue
With a mist like hickory smoke?
Then how the picture began to clear
Till the face came forth like life?
So you appeared to me, neglected ones,
And enemies too, as I went along
With my face growing clearer to you as yours
Grew clearer to me.
We were ready then to walk together
And sing in chorus and chant the dawn
Of life that is wholly life.
Jeremy Carlisle
Edgar Lee Masters
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Poem topics: remember, together, walk, blue, ready, moment, clear, picture, liquid, dawn, chorus, good, face, joy, life, I love you, I miss you, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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KATHRYN HARKER: This poem is a response to Masters's numerous critics. "Blindness of souls to other souls" - the negative responses by other Poets and Critics..."having the good in you seen" - acknowledgement of the positive reviews. " lofty scorn...acrid skepticism" - his feelings of self-importance yet doubt as to the truth of the opinions. "Tintypes making them blue" - symbol of freedom and imagination. "The picture began to clear" - freed from guilt. "So you appeared to me" - as appeared in a court of law. "Neglected ones" - other disregarded Poets" and enemies . "With my face growing clearer (free from guilt) as yours grew clearer to me. "And sing in chorus" - celebrate our poetry, "and chant the dawn" - and hope for happiness and improvement - "Of life that is wholly life" - unconditional in every part.
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