Poetry · Chapter

Two Rondels explained

The speaker describes waking in the night to a spiritual battle against dark thoughts and cares, called by the Lord.

What happens

The speaker describes waking in the night to a spiritual battle against dark thoughts and cares, called by the Lord. Though no voice comes from God, the speaker finds a realization of unity with the divine, overcoming the sense of separation and conflict.

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the speaker tu…

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Themes in this chapter

Spiritual Struggle and Doubt
The speaker battles 'darksome imps' and 'wraths and cares' in the night, crying out for a voice from God that does not come.
Redemption and Grace
Despite silence, the speaker experiences a dawning brightness and a sense of oneness with God, transcending the need for an audible voice.

Characters to notice

Lord
The Lord is addressed as the one who calls the speaker in the night and whose voice is sought amid spiritual struggle.
Unknown
The speaker who wakes, fights inner darkness, and ultimately finds unity with the divine.

Key passages

“When, in the mid-sea of the night, I waken at thy call, O Lord, The first that troop my bark aboard Are darksome imps that hate the light, Whose tongues are arrows, eyes a blight⁠— Of wraths and cares a pirate horde⁠—”
When I wake in the deep night because you have called me, Lord, the first things that board my ship are dark, light-hating imps—their words are like arrows, their gaze harmful—a pirate crew of anger and worry.
The speaker describes the immediate onslaught of negative thoughts upon waking.
“There comes no voice from thee, O Lord, Across the mid-sea of the night! I lift my voice and cry with might: If thou keep silent, soon a horde Of imps again will swarm aboard, And I shall be in sorry plight If no voice come from thee, my Lord, Across the mid-sea of the night.”
You send no voice, Lord, across this midnight sea! I shout with all my strength: if you stay silent, a crowd of imps will soon swarm my ship again, and I will be in a bad state if I hear no voice from you, my Lord, across the midnight sea.
The speaker cries out in desperation, fearing the return of dark thoughts without God's response.
“There comes no voice; I hear no word! But in my soul dawns something bright:⁠— There is no sea, no foe to fight! Thy heart and mine beat one accord: I need no voice from thee, O Lord, Across the mid-sea of the night.”
No voice comes; I hear nothing! Yet something bright dawns in my soul: there is no sea, no enemy to fight! Your heart and mine beat as one: I don't need a voice from you, Lord, across the midnight sea.
The speaker realizes a profound unity with God, rendering the need for an external voice unnecessary.

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