On This Long Storm the Rainbow Rose
poem 194
On This Long Storm the Rainbow Rose - meaning Summary
After a Long Storm
The poem contrasts a renewed natural world—rainbow, sun, smiling birds—with a human figure who remains unawakened. Nature recovers after a storm, but the speaker observes someone for whom even this bright revival is powerless. Death’s "quiet nonchalance" suggests a tranquil, final sleep that no ordinary morning can disturb. Only a supernatural summons, the Archangel’s call, could rouse her, making the poem about irreversible separation amid worldly beauty.
Read Complete AnalysesOn this long storm the Rainbow rose On this late Morn the Sun The clouds like listless Elephants Horizons straggled down The Birds rose smiling, in their nests The gales indeed were done Alas, how heedless were the eyes On whom the summer shone! The quiet nonchalance of death No Daybreak can bestir The slow Archangel’s syllables Must awaken her!
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