King Trisanku by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Editor's note

Longfellow begins by mentioning Viswamitra, a formidable sage and magician from the Hindu epic *Ramayana*. He harnessed his spiritual powers to achieve something remarkable: sending King Trisanku physically toward the realm of the gods. Longfellow maintains a straightforward tone, treating the myth as a fact — he relies on the story to convey its message without adding personal commentary.

Editor's note

The gods are unhappy. Indra, the king of the Hindu heavens, along with the other deities, dismiss Trisanku and cast him aside. However, Viswamitra's powerful magic halts his descent midway. The king finds himself stuck in the air, trapped between two opposing forces. This stanza creates the vital physical image that the entire poem relies on.

Editor's note

Here Longfellow makes his turn — the word "Thus" indicates that the myth was always leading to this moral. He directly connects the story to human psychology: our aspirations are Viswamitra's magic, lifting us toward something greater; our doubts and insecurities represent the gods' rejection, pulling us back down. The outcome mirrors the suspension Trisanku experienced, but it's felt internally rather than literally.