 | Poems by Maurice Thompson |  |
107
THE ASSAULT.
(Amazilia cerviniventris.)
A wingëd rocket, curving through
An amethyst trajectory,
Blew up the magazines of dew
Within the fortress of the bee.
An amethyst trajectory,
Blew up the magazines of dew
Within the fortress of the bee.
Some say the tulip mortar sent
The missile forth; I do not know;
I scarcely saw which way it went,
Its whisk of flame surprised me so.
The missile forth; I do not know;
I scarcely saw which way it went,
Its whisk of flame surprised me so.
I heard the sudden hum and boom,
And saw the arc of purple light
Across the garden's rosy gloom;
Then something glorious blurred my sight!
And saw the arc of purple light
Across the garden's rosy gloom;
Then something glorious blurred my sight!
The bees forgot to sound alarm,
And did not pause their gates to lock;
A topaz terror took by storm
The tower of the hollyhock.
And did not pause their gates to lock;
108
The tower of the hollyhock.
Above the rose a halo hung,
As if a bomb had been a gem,
And round the dahlia's head was swung
A blade that looked a diadem.
As if a bomb had been a gem,
And round the dahlia's head was swung
A blade that looked a diadem.
What more befell I cannot say;
By ruby glint and emerald gleam
My sense was dazed; the garden lay
Around me like an opal dream!
By ruby glint and emerald gleam
My sense was dazed; the garden lay
Around me like an opal dream!
| Poems by Maurice Thompson | |