My Lyrical Life Poems Old and New. By Gerald Massey |
 | 1. |
|
THE SUNKEN CITY. |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| 2. |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
|
|
 | My Lyrical Life |  |
32
THE SUNKEN CITY.
By day it lies hidden, and lurks beneath
The ripples that laugh with light;
But calmly and clearly and coldly as death
It looms into shape by night,
When—the awful Heavens alone with me!—
I look on the City that's sunk in the sea.
The ripples that laugh with light;
But calmly and clearly and coldly as death
It looms into shape by night,
When—the awful Heavens alone with me!—
I look on the City that's sunk in the sea.
Many a Castle I built in the air;
Towers that gleamed in the sun;
Spires that soared up stately and fair,
Till they touched heaven, every one,
Lie under the waters that mournfully
Closed over the City that's sunk in the sea.
Towers that gleamed in the sun;
Spires that soared up stately and fair,
Till they touched heaven, every one,
Lie under the waters that mournfully
Closed over the City that's sunk in the sea.
Many fine houses, but never a home;
Windows, and no live face!
Doors set wide where no beating hearts come;
No voice is heard in the place;
It sleeps in the arms of Eternity—
The silent City that's sunk in the sea.
Windows, and no live face!
Doors set wide where no beating hearts come;
No voice is heard in the place;
It sleeps in the arms of Eternity—
The silent City that's sunk in the sea.
There the face of a dead love lies,
Embalmed in the bitterest tears;
No breath on the lips! no smile in the eyes,
Though you watched for years and years:
And the dear drowned eyes never close from me,
Looking up from the City that's sunk in the sea.
Embalmed in the bitterest tears;
No breath on the lips! no smile in the eyes,
Though you watched for years and years:
And the dear drowned eyes never close from me,
Looking up from the City that's sunk in the sea.
Two of the bonniest birds of God
That ever warmed human heart
For a nest, till they fluttered their wings abroad,
Lie in their chambers apart—
Dead! yet pleading most piteously
In the lonesome City that's sunk in the sea.
That ever warmed human heart
For a nest, till they fluttered their wings abroad,
Lie in their chambers apart—
33
In the lonesome City that's sunk in the sea.
Oh, the brave Ventures there lying a wreck,
Dark on the shore of the Lost!
Gone down with every hope on deck,
When all-sail for a glorious Coast!
And the waves go sparkling splendidly
Over the City that's sunk in the sea.
Dark on the shore of the Lost!
Gone down with every hope on deck,
When all-sail for a glorious Coast!
And the waves go sparkling splendidly
Over the City that's sunk in the sea.
Then I look from my City that's sunk in the sea,
To that Star-Chamber overhead;
And torturingly they question me—
“What of this world of the Dead
That lies out of sight? and how will it be
With the City and thee, when there's no more sea?”
To that Star-Chamber overhead;
And torturingly they question me—
“What of this world of the Dead
That lies out of sight? and how will it be
With the City and thee, when there's no more sea?”
| My Lyrical Life | |