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An Analysis of the poem //Kubla Kahn//
While suffering through times of emotional and physical stress in his life, it is no secret that Coleridge stuggled greatly with drug problems. Initially used to alleviate pain caused my medical conditions, opium became his drug of choice. However, quickly the drug use became an addiction. In fact, Coleridge claims that this well-known poem, Kubla Khan, came to him in an opium-induced dream. As the story goes, Coleridge explains that he had been reading about Kubla Kahn before he fell asleep, and in his slumber, he began to write the poem.

The poem can be divided into two distinct parts. The first part is written in the third person narrative and narrative descriptive. The second part, beginning with the line "A damsel with a dulcimer...", is more lyrical and written in the first person. Even though these two parts seem almost as if they are part of two different works, Coleridge, brings them together with a unique style. It is said that Coleridge was interrupted by a visitor while writing Kubla Kahn, and after the visitor left he could not recall any more of the poem as he was writing it from memory. This may be the reason why the poem is written in two different voices and this may be the reason for the change between the last and second to last stanzas.

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.
 * __Kubla Kahn__**

So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover! A savage place! as holy and enchanted As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted By woman wailing for her demon-lover! And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced: Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail: And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Through wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw: It was an Abyssinian maid, And on her dulcimer she played, Singing of Mount Abora. Could I revive within me Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight 'twould win me That with music loud and long I would build that dome in air, That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed And drunk the milk of Paradise.

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