MY FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD POEM, The Listeners BY WALTER DE LA MARE

‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller,
Knocking on the moonlit door;
And his horse in the silence champed the grasses
Of the forest’s ferny floor:
And a bird flew up out of the turret,
Above the Traveller’s head:
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
‘Is there anybody there?’ he said.
But no one descended to the Traveller;
No head from the leaf-fringed sill
Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes,
Where he stood perplexed and still.
But only a host of phantom listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men:
Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
That goes down to the empty hall,
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
By the lonely Traveller’s call.
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
Their stillness answering his cry,
While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf,
’Neath the starred and leafy sky;
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:-
‘Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word,’ he said.
Never the least stir made the listeners,
Though every word he spake
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
From the one man left awake:
Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hoofs were gone.
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🎼 Music:
The Lark Ascending, Ralph Vaughan Williams
rvwsociety.com/
🎼 Richard Tognetti (performer) 🎻
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[@wordswithro]

Sorry everyone this video had to reedited I had left The Lark Ascending playing after the poem for everyone to enjoy its full journey, but there was a copyright strike. It had to be removed. YT editing features are very rudimentary so I apologise that the video now ends abruptly that was the only way to do it! X

[@one-pt2io]

I've just been transported to another time and place! magic, just pure magic 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@valaridavinski8611]

Just beautiful!

[@martinlaer5600]

Great Ro ! Love this one !!

[@valaridavinski8611]

Listening to this on repeat over and over again!

[@zenpuppy123]

Me too I dont think I knew before that violin can be so beautiful!

[@lanacain]

The music l can do without out. The poem is enough. ⚘️⚘️

[@zenpuppy123]

you are a gift 🥺💐

[@truthbetold41]

I wish they had auto like for your videos Ro, they are perfection. I literally look forward to get home from work and listen to your voice

[@XLRCableguy]

Keep coming back to this one. I literally get lost in thought

[@eugenemonaghan8943]

I love how you remind me of poems and poets I have forgotten many years ago. The accompanying music is beautiful too.

[@wordswithro]

I hope you enjoy this poem as much as I did when I was child. Please pass on to anyone you think might enjoy.If you want to show your appreciation, you can buy me a cocoa so I can stay focussed while editing this vids for your truly ;) All books bought for research purposes are donated back to charity 💚buymeacoffee.com/wordswithro

[@spmoran4703]

I have heard many musicians play ' Lark asending ' . A devine piece of music . But this performance is one of the best .

[@wordswithro]

So glad you liked it :)

[@x-zl4ce]

Stunning read, Love your choice not to make a film this time because it makes the listener ;) focus on the words and the silences. Thank you Ro for your services to poetry🙏

[@hippyshake244]

Stunning so peaceful. Sent you a dm for work opportunity ;)

[@lanacain]

Yeats is deep. A point in time😊

[@valaridavinski8611]

Also really love the music choice!

[@zenpuppy123]

its awesome!!

[@peaceman-lr1uy]

i loved this poem too, Ive not heard it in years. Beautiful reading Ro 🥲 You are making me rediscover classical music. Lovely pairing. Hope to see you soon 💚💗

[@XLRCableguy]

That violin solo was wow, awesome pairing with a much love poem. This channel is such a treasure. Yes we Ro makes an apperance soon!

[@zenpuppy123]

@@XLRCableguy 💯💯💯

[@truthbetold41]

@@XLRCableguy Yes i think that is the bes violin ever, i dont even like violin but wowza

[@peteroreilly8060]

The abbott of Ababrathok

[@wordswithro]

with pleasure, great suggestion @peteroreilly8060 it might take me a few days to get some images together. Thank you

[@lanacain]

What? Are you trying you trying to impress someone?