Charity
by
Alfred Tennyson
(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)
Charity
The
blasts that blow the poplar white,
The
winds that strip the hawthorn tree,
The
clouds that cross the summer sky,
They
are no types of thee,
Thou
calm, and bright, and quiet soul!
Nor
let the storms of baser minds
For
ever blight thy heaven-born charms,
Thou
angel of our calmer times.
Summary
Once,
in a quiet countryside, the winds began to stir. They blew fiercely through the
trees, turning the poplar’s leaves pale and shaking the hawthorn until its
blossoms scattered. Clouds rolled swiftly across the summer sky, restless and
gray. It was a picture of disturbance—of change, noise, and fleeting beauty.
But
beyond this scene of nature’s turmoil stood something untouched—a spirit, calm
and shining. This spirit was Charity, serene as still water, unmoved by the
tempests around her. While the winds might rage and the clouds might darken the
day, her gentle light did not flicker.
In
the world, there were rough tempers and bitter hearts—“storms of baser minds,”
Tennyson might have called them. They rose like tempests too, threatening to
wither what was pure. Yet, Charity remained unblighted, her grace unbroken. She
was the quiet angel of gentler times—a symbol of kindness that held firm even
when all else trembled.
And
so, amid the wildness of nature and the harshness of human hearts, Charity
shone softly—steadfast, unshaken, and full of peace.
Line-by-line
Paraphrase
The
blasts that blow the poplar white,
->
The strong winds that turn the leaves of the poplar tree pale as they toss and
shimmer,
The
winds that strip the hawthorn tree,
->
The same winds that tear away the blossoms and leaves from the hawthorn tree,
The
clouds that cross the summer sky,
->
The drifting clouds that move restlessly across the bright summer heavens,
They
are no types of thee,
->
These stormy, changeful things do not resemble you at all,
Thou
calm, and bright, and quiet soul!
->
You, who are serene, radiant, and peaceful in spirit!
Nor
let the storms of baser minds
->
Do not let the anger and turbulence of lesser, mean-spirited people,
For
ever blight thy heaven-born charms,
->
Ever spoil or darken your divine, God-given goodness and grace,
Thou
angel of our calmer times.
->
You, who are like an angel bringing peace and gentleness to our more peaceful
age.
Analysis
in Detail
Alfred
Tennyson’s “Charity” is a short but profoundly evocative poem that captures the
essence of moral virtue amid the turbulence of the world. Though only a single
stanza long, it carries the serene force of spiritual stillness, contrasting
the tempests of nature and human frailty with the unwavering calm of divine
goodness.
The
poem opens with vivid natural imagery: “The blasts that blow the poplar white,
/ The winds that strip the hawthorn tree.” These lines immediately draw the
reader into a scene of motion and disruption. The poplar, with its silvery
leaves that turn pale in the wind, and the hawthorn, known for its delicate
blossoms, become symbols of beauty subjected to external forces. The “blasts”
and “winds” that disturb them represent the tempests of life—the emotional,
moral, and social upheavals that can strip away innocence or peace.
Tennyson
continues with “The clouds that cross the summer sky,” expanding the imagery
from the earth to the heavens. Even the sky, serene and radiant in summer, is
not immune to disturbance. Clouds drift across it, casting shadows, just as
moments of sorrow or conflict pass across human experience. But the poet
quickly draws a line of distinction: “They are no types of thee.” None of these
fleeting, restless phenomena, Tennyson insists, are fitting comparisons for the
subject he addresses—Charity.
In
the next line, the poet turns directly to this moral ideal: “Thou calm, and
bright, and quiet soul!” The tone shifts from description to admiration.
Charity—understood here in its biblical sense, as selfless love or divine
kindness—is personified as a radiant being of serenity and inner light. Against
the storms of nature and the passions of humankind, Charity stands firm,
peaceful, and pure. Tennyson’s use of “calm,” “bright,” and “quiet” in
succession conveys both emotional tranquility and spiritual elevation.
The
poem then transitions from praise to exhortation: “Nor let the storms of baser
minds / For ever blight thy heaven-born charms.” Here, Tennyson cautions this
ideal of Charity not to be marred or “blighted” by the corruption of lesser
spirits—those driven by selfishness, malice, or envy. “Baser minds” symbolize
the moral turbulence of the world, the darker impulses of humanity that can
threaten even the noblest virtues. The plea not to let such storms “blight”
Charity’s “heaven-born charms” reinforces her divine origin and enduring
beauty. The poet seems to recognize how difficult it is for purity to remain
unstained amid moral decay, yet he believes in the possibility of its
preservation.
Finally,
the poem closes with a note of reverence: “Thou angel of our calmer times.” The
phrase places Charity in a distinctly moral and historical context. Tennyson
was writing in the early nineteenth century, an era of intellectual upheaval
and shifting faith. To call Charity an “angel” suggests that she is both divine
and protective—a spiritual presence that guides and steadies humankind. The
phrase “our calmer times” may sound ironic, given the social and political
tensions of the age, yet it may also reflect the poet’s hope for a gentler
moral order, one rooted in compassion and understanding rather than strife.
In
essence, “Charity” contrasts the turmoil of both nature and human emotion with
the constancy of moral virtue. Through a series of delicate metaphors, Tennyson
portrays Charity as an unshaken force of divine peace, enduring even when the
world seems to tremble. The poem’s rhythm is gentle, its tone reverent, and its
message timeless: that true goodness—selfless, patient, and calm—remains
unswayed by the tempests of human weakness.
Thus,
in just eight lines, Tennyson encapsulates the enduring power of spiritual
love. The world may rage, nature may change, and human hearts may falter, but
Charity—quiet, luminous, and steadfast—continues to shine as the moral light of
humankind.
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