The wind tapped like a tired man, And like a host, "Come…
““The wind tapped like a tired man, And like a host, "Come in," I boldly answered; entered then My residence within A rapid, footless guest, To offer whom a chair Were as impossible as hand A sofa to the air. No bone had he to bind him, His speech was like the push Of numerous humming-birds at once From a superior bush. His countenance a billow, His fingers, if he pass, Let go a music, as of tunes Blown tremulous in glass. He visited, still flitting; Then, like a timid man, Again he tapped — 't was flurriedly — And I became alone.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem describes an ethereal, fleeting visitor—perhaps imagination or inspiration—who arrives silently, offers intangible comfort, and leaves, leaving the speaker alone.
In simple terms: A fleeting, intangible presence visits and departs, leaving solitude.
Key Takeaway
Embrace fleeting moments, recognize their fleeting nature.
Themes
imagination
solitude
transience
creativity
ephemerality
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
reflective
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- artistic inspiration
- mindful observation
Key Concepts
presence
intangible visitor
silence
music of wind
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the visitor symbolize for you?
- How do you respond to fleeting inspiration?
A Different Perspective
The visitor’s impact may be overstated; its intangibility can make its value unclear.