In Xanadu did Kubla Kan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man Caverns = large caves
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground Fertile = " good soil to grow"
With walls and towers were girdled round: Girdled = to surround
And here were gardens bright with sinuos rills, Rills = streams rivers..
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here forest ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of
greenery.
Enfolding = Embrace, or covering
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Chasm = deep cleft in the surface of the planet.
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover! Athwart = across
A savage place! as holy and enchanted Enchanted = BEWITCH
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted Waning = to decrease in size, extent.: DWINDLE
By women wailing for her demon-lover! Wailing = to express sorrow audibly. : LAMENT
And from this chasm, with
ceaseless turmoil seething, Turmoil
= a state or condition of extreme confusion.
Seething = to suffer violent internal excitement.
As if this earth in fast
thick pants were breathing,
Pants = as in panting for breath.
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Vaulted = arched="in an half circule" Hale=frozen rail
Or chaffy grain beneath the
thresher's flail:
Chaff = Seed coverings ,something comparatively worthless
Flail = from Latin, whip
And mid these dancing rocks
at once and ever
If flung up momently the sacred river. Sacred = Holy
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Meandering = To wander/walk aimlessly around
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sunk in tumult to a lifeless ocean: Turmult = Noisy and disorderly.
And 'mid this tumult Hubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying
war!
Prophesying = To make a prediction
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure Mingled = mix, "mingled with the guests"
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device, Rare = seldom occurring or found : UNCOMMON
A sunny pleasure-dome with
caves of ice!
A damsel with a dulcimer Dulcimer = a stringed instrument
In a vision I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid, Maid = Girl "young"
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abore.
Could I revive within me Revive = bring back "in this case"
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me,
That with music loud and long.
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him
thrice,
Weave = to move in a devious, winding,way
To make (cloth) on a loom.
And close your eyes with
holy dread,
Dread= To fear greatly.
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drank the milk of Paradise.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge