Poetry · Chapter
An Augury explained
The narrator sits at his desk, surrounded by a spray of starry blossoms, and writes in an idle manner while contemplating a serious thought.
What happens
The narrator sits at his desk, surrounded by a spray of starry blossoms, and writes in an idle manner while contemplating a serious thought. He addresses the flowers, noting their fine Greek name and grace, and asks if they bear any messages of despair or hope. A sudden stir of stem and leaf, a breath of heliotrope, suggests an answer.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker’s obsessive pursuit of the divine rose fragrance…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Nature and Artifice
The poem contrasts the natural beauty of the flowers with the artificial act of writing, and the flowers' silent messages with the narrator's idle thoughts.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator is the speaker, writing at his desk and addressing the flowers.
Key passages
“Upon my desk a single spray, With starry blossoms fraught. I write in many an idle way, Thinking one serious thought.”
A single spray of starry blossoms sits on my desk. I write in many idle ways while thinking one serious thought.
The narrator sets the scene of writing amidst the flowers.
““O flowers, a fine Greek name ye bear, And with a fine Greek grace.” (Be still, O heart, that turns to share The sunshine of a face.)”
O flowers, you bear a fine Greek name and grace. Be still, my heart, that turns to share the sunshine of a face.
The narrator addresses the flowers and then speaks to his own heart.
““Have ye no messages—no brief, Still sign: ‘Despair,’ or ‘Hope’?” A sudden stir of stem and leaf— A breath of heliotrope!”
Do you have no messages, no brief, still sign of 'Despair' or 'Hope'? A sudden stir of stem and leaf—a breath of heliotrope!
The narrator asks the flowers for a sign, and the movement and scent of heliotrope provide an answer.
