Analysis of The Quest

Aleister Crowley 1875 (Leamington Spa) – 1947 (Hastings)



A part, immutable, unseen,
Being, before itself had been,
Became. Like dew a triple queen
Shone as the void uncovered:
The silence of deep height was drawn
A veil across the silver dawn
On holy wings that hovered.

The music of three thoughts became
The beauty, that is one white flame,
The justice that surpasses shame,
The victory, the splendour,
The sacred fountain that is whirled
From depths beyond that older world
A new world to engender.

The kingdom is extended. Night
Dwells, and I contemplate the sight
That is not seeing, but the light
That secretly is kindled,
Though oft-time its most holy fire
Lacks oil, whene'er my own Desire
Before desire has dwindled.

I see the thin web binding me
With thirteen cords of unity
Toward the calm centre of the sea.
(O thou supernal mother!)
The triple light my path divides
To twain and fifty sudden sides
Each perfect as each other.

Now backwards, inwards still my mind
Must track the intangible and blind,
And seeking, shall securely find
Hidden in secret places
Fresh feasts for every soul that strives,
New life for many mystic lives,
And strange new forms and faces.

My mind still searches, and attains
By many days and many pains
To That which Is and Was and reigns
Shadowed in four and ten;
And loses self in sacred lands,
And cries and quickens, and understands
Beyond the first Amen.


Scheme AXABCCB DDDEFFE GGGHEEH IIIEJJE KKKLXXL MMMNOON
Poetic Form
Metre 01010001 10010111 01110101 1101010 01011111 01010101 1101110 01011101 01011111 01010101 010001 01010111 11011101 0111010 01010101 1011001 11110101 1100110 111111010 11111010 01010110 11011101 11111100 010110101 11110 01011101 11010101 1011110 1101111 110010001 01010101 1001010 111100111 11110101 0111010 11110001 11010101 11110101 100101 01010101 01010001 010101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,313
Words 239
Sentences 11
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7
Lines Amount 42
Letters per line (avg) 25
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 178
Words per stanza (avg) 39
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:12 min read
110

Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, and mountaineer. more…

All Aleister Crowley poems | Aleister Crowley Books

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