Where great whales come sailing by, Sail and sail, with unshut eye, Round the world for ever and aye? When did music come this way? Children dear, was it yesterday?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wondering if music came with whales sailing around the world forever.
- In plain terms
- Did music arrive with the whales that sail around the world endlessly?
- What can you take from it?
- See the connection between nature, wonder, and art.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does nature inspire your creativity?
- What mysteries do you wonder about?
Another view
The question is poetic and cannot be answered factually.
More from Matthew Arnold
Sand-strewn caverns, cool and deep, Where the winds are all asleep.
Permalink to quote #50 Singing, 'Here came a mortal, But faithless was she: And alone dwell for ever The kings of the sea.'
Permalink to quote #52 Come, dear children, let us away; Down and away below. Now my brothers call from the bay; Now the great winds shoreward blow; Now the salt tides seaward flow; …
Permalink to quote #49
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