The Ancient Elf Poem by James Stephens

The Ancient Elf

Rating: 3.5


I am the maker,
The builder, the breaker,
The eagle-winged helper,
The speedy forsaker!

The lance and the lyre,
The water, the fire,
The tooth of oppression,
The lip of desire!

The snare and the wing,
They honey, the sting!
When you seek for me--look
For a different thing!

I, careless and gay,
Never mean what I say,
For my thoughts and my eyes
Look the opposite way!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Anne Yun 09 March 2017

It feels like the elf from ancient time fell into the poet's soul, evrything emerged from the elf's memory, mingled with the poet, felt by us. Ancient is the opposite of 'now', they exchanged perspectives through the river of time.

1 0 Reply
Sylvaonyema Uba 09 March 2017

Well written in a quatrain of four stanzas embellished in musical rhyme and rhythm. Sylva

0 1 Reply
Rajeeyah Hasan 09 March 2017

This was just fun and delightful. I really enjoyed the pace and light heartedness

1 0 Reply
Muzahidul Reza 09 March 2018

With well images and imageries desiring for being and to do, to reform, .... well penned

1 0 Reply
Tom Allport 09 March 2017

a good descriptive poem of a mythical creature?

1 0 Reply
Koffi B Sossou 14 November 2023

Many have brilliant ideas, but their eyes still lead them astray. MISERABLE!

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Bri Edwards 14 November 2023

the poem has nice rhyming, but makes little sense to me, therefore I call it a silly exercise in rhyming. : ) BUT it is NOT offensive, and the grammar seems ok. So *** 3 stars. bri : )

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Bri Edwards 14 November 2023

'forsake verb Definition of forsake as in to leave to cause to remain behind forsaking most of our possessions, we evacuated just before the hurricane struck' What does Elf forsake? ?

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Bri Edwards 14 November 2023

Perhaps you are 'careless' in not making clear what this 'Elf' is and what it does, thinks, means to do/not do.

0 0 Reply
Kingsley Egbukole 14 November 2023

Well crafted and beautiful choice of words.

0 0 Reply
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