Xanadu - Kubla Khan

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

    A stately pleasure-dome¹ decree：

    Where Alph， the sacred river， ran

    Through caverns² measureless to man

    Down to a sunless sea.

    So twice five miles of fertile ground

    With walls and towers were girdled round：

    And there were gardens bright with sinuous³ rills，

    Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree；

    And here were forests ancient as the hills，

    Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

    But oh！ that deep romantic chasm⁴ which slanted⁵

    Down the green hill athwart a cedarn⁶ cover！

    A savage⁷ place！ as holy and enchanted⁸

    As e'er beneath a waning⁹ moon was haunted

    By woman wailing¹⁰ for her demon-lover！

    And from this chasm， with ceaseless turmoil¹¹ seething¹²，

    As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing，

    A mighty¹³ fountain momently was forced：

    Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst

    Huge fragments vaulted¹⁵ like rebounding¹⁶ hail，

    Or chaffy¹⁷ grain beneath the thresher's flail¹⁸：

    And 'mid¹⁴ these dancing rocks at once and ever

    It flung up momently the sacred river.

    Five miles meandering¹⁹ with a mazy motion

    Through wood and dale the sacred river ran，

    Then reached the caverns measureless to man，

    And sank in tumult²⁰ to a lifeless ocean：

    And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far

    Ancestral voices prophesying²¹ war！

    The shadow of the dome of pleasure

    Floated midway on the waves；

    Where was heard the mingled²² measure

    From the fountain and the caves.

    It was a miracle of rare device，

    A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice！

    A damsel with a dulcimer

    In a vision once I saw：

    It was an Abyssinian maid，

    And on her dulcimer she played，

    Singing of Mount Abora.

    Could I revive within me

    Her symphony and song，

    To such a deep delight 'twould win me

    That with music loud and long

    I would build that dome in air，

    That sunny dome！ those caves of ice！

    And all who heard should see them there，

    And all should cry， Beware！ Beware！

    His flashing eyes， his floating hair！

    Weave a circle round him thrice，

    And close your eyes with holy dread²³，

    For he on honey-dew hath fed

    And drunk the milk of Paradise.