from Xanadu the sacred river Alph runs through caverns on its way to the sea. .......A ravine that opens into these caverns cuts a path through cedar trees on a green hill.The ravine reveals a dark and foreboding underworld,like a place where a woman wails "for her demon-lover"(line 16).From this chasm a fountain bursts intermittently,sending up huge rock fragments.Through the chasm runs the sacred river,Alph,down to the "lifeless ocean"(line 28) .......In his palace,Kubla hears--through the din of the tumbling waters and the spewing fountain--the voices of ancestors foretelling war.(One may conclude from the historical background that this part of the poem refers to the time when the Kubla begins to prepare for the battles that would make him emperor of China and the founder of its Yuan dynasty.) .......The shadow of the palace casts itself down upon the waves,a shadow that will soon cast itself figuratively over all of China as Kubla Khan extends his sovereignty.How strange it is that the sun bathes the palace while ice encrusts the caves below. .......At this point in writing his dream poem,Coleridge receives a visitor,who occupies him for an hour.By the time Coleridge returns to his writing,he has forgotten the rest of his dream.Consequently,he ends the poem by comparing his dream to a song he heard a woman sing,a song which he has also forgotten.This much he does remember:She was singing about Mount Abora to the accompaniment of music she played on a dulcimer.If he could remember her song and her dulcimer sounds,he would build--to their accompaniment--his own Xanadu and pleasure palace in the air.All who heard the song would shout,"Beware!Beware!"Then they would say of him that he is a redoubtable personage who,unlike other men,has "drunk the milk of paradise"(line 54), Text of the Poem In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph,the sacred river,ran Through caverns measureless to man ....Down to a sunless sea................... .5 So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,1 Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills,.......10 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But oh!that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn2cover! A savage place!as holy and enchantedfrom Xanadu the sacred river Alph runs through caverns on its way to the sea. .......A ravine that opens into these caverns cuts a path through cedar trees on a green hill. The ravine reveals a dark and foreboding underworld, like a place where a woman wails "for her demon-lover" (line 16). From this chasm a fountain bursts intermittently, sending up huge rock fragments. Through the chasm runs the sacred river, Alph, down to the "lifeless ocean" (line 28). .......In his palace, Kubla hears--through the din of the tumbling waters and the spewing fountain--the voices of ancestors foretelling war. (One may conclude from the historical background that this part of the poem refers to the time when the Kubla begins to prepare for the battles that would make him emperor of China and the founder of its Yuan dynasty.) .......The shadow of the palace casts itself down upon the waves, a shadow that will soon cast itself figuratively over all of China as Kubla Khan extends his sovereignty. How strange it is that the sun bathes the palace while ice encrusts the caves below. .......At this point in writing his dream poem, Coleridge receives a visitor, who occupies him for an hour. By the time Coleridge returns to his writing, he has forgotten the rest of his dream. Consequently, he ends the poem by comparing his dream to a song he heard a woman sing, a song which he has also forgotten. This much he does remember: She was singing about Mount Abora to the accompaniment of music she played on a dulcimer. If he could remember her song and her dulcimer sounds, he would build--to their accompaniment--his own Xanadu and pleasure palace in the air. All who heard the song would shout, "Beware! Beware!" Then they would say of him that he is a redoubtable personage who, unlike other men, has "drunk the milk of paradise" (line 54), . Text of the Poem In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man ....Down to a sunless sea....................................................5 So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,1 Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills,.........................10 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn 2cover! A savage place! as holy and enchanted