Ashes Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
““They passed the hall, that echoes still, Pass as lightly as you will. The brands were flat, the brands were dying, Amid their own white ashes lying; But when the lady passed, there came A tongue of light, a fit of flame; And Christabel saw the lady's eye, And nothing else saw she thereby,””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Lady of the White Ashes”, 1816
A fleeting, luminous presence brings brief illumination amid decay, suggesting fleeting insight or revelation in a desolate setting.
In simple terms: A bright figure briefly lights a dying scene.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of insight in bleak times.
Themes
beauty
transience
light
death
spirituality
Mood
melancholic
reflective
enigmatic
Type
literary
poetic
contemplative
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- creative writing
- meditation
- grief counseling
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
romanticism
symbolism
contrast
ephemerality
vision
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “tongue of light” symbolize?
- How can brief insights change perception?
A Different Perspective
The poem’s obscure language may limit accessibility for modern readers.
