Lightning
D. H. Lawrence
1885 to 1930
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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When the lightning flew across her face,
Almost I hated her, she was so good,
And lips apart with dumb cries;
Repeating with tightened arms, and the hot blood's blindfold art.
Of the words I kept repeating,
Next my breast, where my own heart was beating;
Her face lay there before my breast,
A moment, like a wavering spark,
And I saw her for the flaring space
And the sense of her clinging flesh was sweet
I felt the lurch and halt of her heart
Home, away home, ere the lightning floated forth again.
And my arms fell loose, and I was dumb.
Pale love lost in a snow of fear,
And claim her utterly in a kiss,
Where her arms and my neck's blood-surge could meet.
And guarded by a glittering tear,
Warm as a flame in the close night air;
I leaned me forward to find her lips,
Holding her thus, did I care
A moment, and she was taken again in the merciful dark.
And I laughed to feel it plunge and bound,
Of a second, afraid of the clips
Hated myself, and the place, and my blood,
Her breath flew warm against my neck,
And strange in my blood-swept ears was the sound
I heard the thunder, and felt the rain,
Of my arms, inert with dread, wilted in fear of my kiss.
Which burned with rage, as I bade her come
That the black night hid her from me, blotted out every speck?