Thou leanest to the shell of night,
Dear lady, a divining ear.
In that soft choiring of delight
What sound hath made thy heart to fear?
Seemed it of rivers rushing forth
From the grey deserts of the north?
That mood of thine, O timorous,
Is his, if thou but scan it well,
Who a mad tale bequeaths to us
At ghosting hour conjurable—
And all for some strange name he read
In Purchas or in Holinshed.
I am busy working to bring James Joyce's "Thou leanest to the shell of night" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about James Joyce's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Thou leanest to the shell of night" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.